"No Wiser Words"

"No Wiser Words"

   "And it came to pass, that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples" (Luke 11:1). 

    The disciple who requested the Lord Jesus Christ's counsel regarding prayer offered one of the wisest petitions ever uttered.  We do well to follow his example, regardless of how long we have known the Lord and sought to prayerfully walk with Him.  "Teach us to pray."  We could ask the question daily for the rest of our lives without exhausting our Heavenly Father's desire to increase our knowledge of prayer or our need to grow in such blessedness.  Fellowship with the living God presents the most wondrous blessing imaginable, a gift of grace purchased by the precious blood of Christ and enabled by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

        "Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6).

        "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

    Prayer begins with the Lord's beckoning presence in our hearts.  The praying Christ dwells within born again believers.  His Spirit moves upon the face of our hearts no less than upon the face of the waters at creation (Genesis 1:2).  He beckons us to commune with our Father in praise, thanksgiving, intercession, supplication, and the joy of personal fellowship between the Divine and the human.  Our calling involves the response of faith, believing that through Christ, "effectual, fervent prayer" prayer is possible (James 5:16).  Our response actualizes the potential, again, as led and enabled by the Holy Spirit.  No calling of God more requires His initiation, motivation, and guidance, and no calling more commands our active response of choice, thought, and intelligent involvement.  The Lord Jesus severely chided the religious leaders of His day regarding lengthy, but empty prayers (Mark 12:40).  He calls us to apply ourselves with utmost seriousness, a justifiable mandate considering His promised enabling.  Thus, we do well to join the disciple of old in the ongoing request, "Teach us to pray."

   Note one other point regarding this vital spiritual matter.  The disciple prayed for himself and for all the disciples.  "Teach us to pray."  We can offer no greater intercession for one another than the request for growth in the grace and knowledge of the praying Christ and His active involvement in our hearts regarding fellowship with God.  The daily request for brothers and sisters constitutes an act of love for one another that will grace both time and eternity with pleasure in both our hearts and the heart of our Heavenly Father.  "Lord, teach us to pray."  We will utter no wiser words in this day, or in any day.

"Pray without ceasing."

(I Thessalonians 5:17)

"When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."

(Psalm 27:8)

Weekly Memory Verse

    For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

(Proverbs 2:6)