Orange Moon "Teach Us To Pray"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe...

 

"Teach Us To Pray"   

 

    What things happen because we have prayed about them?  What things do not happen because we have not prayed about them? We do not fully know. However, we must realize and grow in the awareness of our privileged responsibility to communicate with God about the fulfillment of His eternal purposes in the Lord Jesus Christ.

"After this manner therefore pray ye, Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:9-10).

 

    The prayers of born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ arise to the the throne of Heaven as a vital component of the outworking of His will. Our Heavenly Father both acts and refrains from acting in response to our requests. "I love the Lord because He hath heard my voice and my supplications... Ye have not because ye ask not" (Psalm 116:1; James 4:2). Our first response to such truth must first be stunned bewilderment that mere creatures such as ourselves have so significant a role in His purposes. How could an almighty Being confer such a calling on those prone to forgetfulness, neglect, and even willful departure from our callings? Indeed, if asked about their life of prayer, even the most devout believers among us will shake their heads and confess how far they have to go in availing themselves of so precious a gift, and in fulfilling so important a responsibility. How then does God work out so much of His will through our prayers?

Much of the answer remains ever hidden in the wonders of our Lord's wisdom and way. The heart of prayer does not emphasize the ones praying, but rather the One answering our prayers. Too many considerations of prayer focus on our calling and responsibility. Certainly, a place exists for such pondering of the path to which our Heavenly Father beckons us. However, our best praying always proceeds from focusing on the One to whom we pray, and the One who leads and enables us to pray effectually and fervently. Just as our faith flows primarily from gazing upon God's faithfulness, so prayer rides upon the wings of realizing His desire and even delight in communion with us, and that He graces us with participation in the fulfillment of His purposes. "In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).

"Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). The disciples of the Lord Jesus voiced the wisest of prayers in their request for His guidance regarding the wonder of communion with God. We do well to join them in the request throughout the days of our earthly lives. The infinite, almighty Creator of all things calls us to commune with Him. He also confers upon us the privileged responsibility of serving as a prayerful participant with Him regarding His glorious purposes. Overwhelmed wonder must descend upon us as we descend to the knees of our hearts in prayer. Such amazement will always best place us in the frame of heart and mind that leads us to pray effectually, fervently, and most of all, in the grateful love that flows from our Father's gracious love whereby He delights in us, and works through us.

"The prayer of the upright is His delight."

(Proverbs 15:8)

"Ask and ye shall receive" (John 16:24).

 "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men" (I Timothy 2:1).

 

Weekly Memory Verse

    "The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works."

(Psalm 145:9)

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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