The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Always To Pray"
Part 2 - "Not To Faint"
"Men ought always to pray, and not to faint."
(Luke 18:10)
Survey one thousand born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and ask them what they find most challenging in their walk with God. Many will answer that a life of consistent and effectual prayer seems most daunting.
"Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).
The Lord's disciples certainly felt this way. Their request for teaching regarding the matter of prayer serves as the only such plea mentioned in the Gospels. Having watched the Lord Jesus pray, and hearing that John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray, Christ's followers sought His wisdom about a subject that challenges all. The disciples knew the importance of prayer, and they knew they had an Expert resident in their midst (the only expert on prayer who has ever lived). Thus, they asked the wisest of all requests: "Lord, teach us to pray."
We do well to echo their supplication. A primary reason involves the fact that we are prone "to faint' in our praying. Genuine prayer does not come naturally to human hearts originally born of Adam's fallen race. We rather hide from God, as did Adam and Eve in the trees of the garden (Genesis 3:8). Christians, of course, are born again of Christ's spiritual race, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit who leads and enables us to pray. However, we still possess flesh that tempts us to run from God rather than to Him. One way we overcome such temptation involves maintaining the awareness that no matter how much we know about communion with our Heavenly Father, or how much we have practiced it, we are all basic learners in the school of prayer. Class is in, day by day, and we do well to attend. "Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day" (Psalm 25:5).
No less than the Apostle Paul confessed, "We know not what to pray for as we ought" (Romans 8:26; emphasis added). Considering that Paul was a man who was caught up to Heaven and given abundance of revelation more than any other, we might suspect he would have considered himself an expert in the privileged responsibility of prayer. He did not, because he was not. Again, only one Expert of prayer has ever lived, the Lord Jesus Himself. Thus, like Paul, we do well to consider ourselves ever in need of voicing the plea, "Lord, teach us to pray." Thereby, we will be less likely to faint as God answers with greater light concerning so great a gift.
I write this to praying people. I have prayed a few prayers myself in the 46 years I have been a believer. Doubtless, however, we all keenly recognize our great need for growth in our understanding and practice of prayer. How can this not be, considering that an infinite and eternal Being beckons us to fellowship with Himself? I find that the realization of my need in the matter goes far in motivating my desire to learn, and even more, to pray. Yes, we "ought always to pray." If we are "not to faint," we must learn more and more what it means to commune with the One more than happy to teach us, and more than able to lead and empower us in our praying. Let us therefore join the disciples of old by voicing the wise and knowing request, "Lord, teach us to pray."
"O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles."
(Psalm 43:3)
Weekly Memory Verse
I will go in the strength of the Lord my God.
(Psalm 71:16).
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