It is day one of our exploration into the topic of prayer! You may already be a regular with God, but if you are like most of us – you are not the prayer warrior you would like to be. Our hope is that this study will provide you with additional tools taken from the examples and specific instructions left to us by Jesus to enhance your conversations with God.
We would recommend you having a notebook available to jot down notes, answers to questions, and discoveries you may make while in study.
ASSIGNMENT:
Read Luke 11:1-4
The disciples said to Jesus “_____________________________”
The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, and evidently they learned their lesson well! The Lord’s last instructions to them before His ascension were to wait for what the Father promised (Acts 1:4). As they waited, they prayed, and received the promised Spirit. As the story in Acts unfolded, those prayers continued.
The lame walked,
the blind were given sight,
demons were cast out,
Dorcas was raised from the dead,
prison doors were opened.
And thousands believed, were baptized, and saved!
The apostles who had deserted Jesus a few weeks earlier now stood before the Sanhedrin with courage – the same court that had condemned their Lord. They endured all sorts of persecution. They endured because they had learned their lesson well. They had learned to pray. And, in so doing, they were continuing Jesus’ work through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Please spend the remainder of the time you set aside for today’s lesson in prayer. *Be honest with God and be yourself. After all, He knows your zip code, He knows what you had for breakfast, He not only knows your fingerprint, He gave it to you. So put away the flowery religious clichés. You will see, over the course of our study, that Jesus doesn’t tolerate phonies. On the other hand, He made you and understands all that has gone into making you – you. (*comments adapted w/permission from Lord Teach us to Pray, NavPress)
Last Wednesday morning the ladies who meet at the building committed to praying daily, Lord, teach us to pray. Please join us – daily – in that prayer. God is faithful, we will surely be blessed and His name glorified!
