Read
Prayer
(Matthew 6.9-13; 7.7-11)
1When Jesus had finished praying, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his followers to pray.”
2So Jesus told them, “Pray in this way:
‘Father, help us
to honor your name.
Come and set up
your kingdom.
3Give us each day
the food we need.
4Forgive our sins,
as we forgive everyone
who has done wrong to us.
And keep us
from being tempted.’ ”
5Then Jesus went on to say:
Suppose one of you goes to a friend in the middle of the night and says, “Let me borrow three loaves of bread. 6A friend of mine has dropped in, and I don't have a thing for him to eat.” 7And suppose your friend answers, “Don't bother me! The door is bolted, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you something.”
8He may not get up and give you the bread, just because you are his friend. But he will get up and give you as much as you need, simply because you are not ashamed to keep on asking.
9So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. 10Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find, and the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. 11Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a snake if the child asked for a fish? 12Which one of you would give your child a scorpion if the child asked for an egg? 13As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.
Reflect
Not many of us would be comfortable enough to hold our prayer habits up for public inspection, unless we plan to give a lesson on how to be haphazard, neglectful and disappointed when we pray. Clearly Jesus’ own disciples also felt this way, and their first ‘prayer’ was the humble request, ‘Lord, teach us to pray…’.
Jesus reassures us that we can learn to pray well. He outlines the beautiful balance and order of a thoughtful conversation with God. His example directs us to acknowledge who we are speaking to, voice our desire for transformation and identify our dependence on God for all we cannot achieve ourselves. We are to first look up, then look around and finally consider ourselves.
When we are discouraged because our prayers appear unanswered, Jesus in this passage gives us a very clear instruction: keep praying. It would be wise to humbly re-evaluate what we are asking for, or when and how we expect the answer to be given, but under no circumstances are we to abandon faithful petition.
The promised outcome of obedience is that we will see his goodness when we are diligent in prayer. Just like training in a sport, dedication to the goal involves a wholehearted involvement of mind, spirit and body. It is as if Christ pleads, please keep asking. Please seek me, and throw yourself upon the door of my mercy, and I will meet you there.
Like any relationship, as we experience the many facets of our Father, our communication with him matures. With more profound conversation, we learn more of his heart. There is intrinsic reward in honouring him by how we conduct ourselves in prayer.
Respond
Father in heaven, reverently I come before you. Grant me only gifts that advance your great plan. Teach me excellence in prayer so that I can participate in the work of your Spirit. When I fail, thank-you that Christ intercedes for me. Amen.
Miriam Wickett
Miriam Wickett works as an occupational therapist in the Greater Vancouver area but has thoroughly enjoyed being the author of daily online prayer compilations on her Blue Stone City site, and collaborating with Scripture Union Canada as a result. She shares a vision for the city with her community at Tenth Church, serving as the refugee support ministry co-ordinator, and spends summers as a volunteer camp director on beautiful Thetis Island, B.C.