Tuesday, October 31, 2006

IDEA: Prayer has deeper purposes than merely getting things from God.

When you think about the teachings of Jesus, how much do you think He had to say to people of faith about prayer?

I. Do you think that in Christ’s teachings we are encouraged to pray?

Jesus taught His disciples a model to pray. We call it the Lord’s Prayer.

In other passages, He says that if you ask anything in His name, He will do it.

Jesus said, "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." This is followed by a parable: "Will a father give his son a stone when he asks for bread? You being evil know how to give good gifts to your children; God knows even more."

II. Do you think that some of the teachings of Jesus make it difficult to pray?

Before Jesus introduces the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6, He says, “Do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

Does that word of Christ’s raise questions in your mind about prayer?

III. Do you think that prayer has other purposes than simply giving God a grocery list of the things we want or need?

Is it possible that the purpose of prayer is to build a relationship with the Father?

Did your children have to ask you for everything you gave them? Were you ever pleased when they asked you for something that you were perfectly willing to give?

What do you think your relationship to your children would be if they never spoke to you because you would provide everything they need?

Does conversation with a spouse or parent or friend consist exclusively in asking for things?

Whatever it means in the relationship between faith and prayer involves our dependence on God for all that we need in life. Perhaps prayer makes us aware of that relationship.