Welcome to a brand new series on prayer! What is prayer? Somebody once said it’s like calling home, and I can relate to that because I have a loving father who just appreciates every time I ring his cell phone. But what if you don’t? What if you have a troubled relationship with your father? Maybe you think of prayer like it’s an SOS help, and God accepts those SOS prayers. He understands them. For me, so often prayer is touching base with my dad who cares about everything I’m going through, and the things that are pressing on my heart. Often it’s a reconnection. It’s a way to set my heart right.
Let’s find out what Jesus has to say about this, starting off in Luke, chapter 11.
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Transcription:
What is prayer? Somebody once said it’s like calling home, and I can relate to that because I have a loving father who just appreciates every time I ring his cell phone. But what if you don’t? You have a troubled relationship with your father? Maybe you think of prayer like it’s an SOS help, and God accepts those SOS prayers. He understands them. For me, so often prayer is touching base with my dad who cares about everything I’m going through, and the things that are pressing on my heart. Often it’s a reconnection. It’s a way to set my heart right. Often in the car, on my way to work in the morning, like 4:30 in the morning, I’ll pray God created me a clean heart. Straight from the Psalms. Hi, it’s Erica. Welcome to a brand New series on the Bible for Busy People. I want to kick us off today with some powerful words from CS Lewis who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia.
I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It does not change God. It changes me.
And it’s so true. Something happens when you and I spend time with Jesus. When you and I carve out a space for the Creator of the universe and of our own hearts. He’s there. He’s listening. That’s one of the reasons I pray. It’s because I know that God is listening. If I can just get quiet enough, all of a sudden there’s this peace that just steals over me. And the fact is so often he answers prayers in a dramatic fashion. You and I are going to study this week on the Bible for Busy People, a few instances of when God listened and heard and answered in ways that will just inspire you and amaze you. But for today, hey, it looks like they’re about to turn out the lights and something’s happening backstage. Jesus is going to be doing a Ted Talk today. We’re going to find it in Luke Chapter 11. Join me there in verse one. Here we go.
Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, Lord, Teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples referring to John the Baptist there, who many people followed before Jesus came. Jesus said, this is how you should pray; Father, may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation. Then teaching them more about prayer. He used this story. Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, a friend of mine has just arrived for a visit and I have nothing for him to eat.
Like this is way before DoorDash. Okay?
And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, don’t bother me, the door is locked for the night and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you. But I tell you this, though, he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be open to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks fines and to everyone who knocks the door will be opened.
Every time you knock on God’s door, so to speak. He’s answering. He is listening. He cares about the things that you care about. And he tells us, as we studied last week In Peter’s first letter, to cast our cares on him because He cares for us. So, there’s a very specific prayer that I’m praying right now. My daughter really wants to meet somebody and share her life with him. And so, she has this beautiful emerald green dress, something you would wear to a really special occasion. And she’s like, mom, I don’t even know why I bought it. I don’t know why I had It altered, but I know it’s there for a reason. It has given me a picture in my mind. I’m now praying that God would provide a special occasion for my daughter to attend with someone very special. Somebody godly and cute, that’s always the prayer, to take her to this special occasion. I also know that God has told me to wait, for a long time. My daughter has been wanting to meet somebody for a while, but I have watched her change and grow over the years into the person God wants her to be. And I don’t think she was ready months or even years ago. So, if God is telling you to wait today, you’re not alone and it’s always for a good reason. Okay, back to Jesus’s Ted Talk on prayer today. Picking it up in verse 11.
You fathers, if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not. So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.
The Holy Spirit there to give us discernment and comfort and help. The Holy Spirit in itself is an answer to prayer. Jesus told us that when he left to go back to heaven, after his fruitful time on this planet, he would not leave us as orphans. He would send us the Holy Spirit to be with us all of our days. Isn’t that so awesome to think that he never expected us to do life on our own? He’s always with us. So, pray with me, won’t you. Let’s pray over the next few days that God would open our eyes and our ears and our hearts to what He wants us to understand about praying.
Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus. We thank you that you are always listening. You’re always here for us. We give you these next few days. We give you this time together. Lord, we know that every single time we give you some space, you fill it with something meaningful and beautiful. So, we give this space to you always. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Alright, until next time when we start reading some amazing accounts of answered prayer in God’s word, remember you are loved.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life.
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