Being Taught How to Pray

This Sunday the Gospel reading focuses on prayer, giving us what we call The Lord's Prayer and also a parable that Jesus told regarding prayer.

The reading begins with these words about Jesus:  "He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."  Luke 11:1

I believe we are all students of prayer; we all are on this journey of traveling in faith where we may desire to speak to God.  Don't we know how difficult communication can be among us as human beings?  Now consider our speaking to God, the One who made us - the One who is holy and blameless.  How do we do it with meaning, and perhaps even with proper etiquette and if you will, humility?

Jesus gave his disciples words to use in what folks in many churches will pray every Sunday.  One wonders if we are to use the exact words Jesus gave or did these words serve merely as a model giving us structure and content?   Whatever it may be, we have a direction in our praying.  Jesus wanted us to be able to speak to his heavenly Father.

He then gave them a parable, teaching them to be persistent in prayer.  How often do you pray?  Do you feel prayer is making a difference in your life?

Risking One's Life in High-Wire Walking and Praying

On Sunday, June 23, Nik Wallenda accomplished another risky endeavor.   He walked on a high-wire suspended 1,500 feet above the Little Colorado River Gorge.   Nik is one of the "Flying Wallendas."  The walk was broadcast live on the Discovery Channel.   It was risky, to say the least, with no net underneath him.  However, in addition to getting updates on the wind situation, he was constantly in prayer.  It was one of thankfulness for the beauty of what he saw as well as praying for calm wind.

His praying was done because he was in a risky situation.  His life was on the line!  This event made me think about how much we are willing to take RISKS for the sake of the kingdom of God.  Maybe it is that we are willing to speak to someone about our faith and not knowing how we will be accepted. Maybe it is that we are willing to help someone in need - who is a stranger and not know how this individual will respond.

Here's the question I would like to leave with you in light of Nik's courageous event.  Is what you are doing right now for God's kingdom enough of a risk that it calls for prayer?

The Power of the Church Praying

The church collectively has been offering up prayers for all kinds of situations - for individuals who are sick, for those going through troubling times, for peace in our world, for national leaders, etc.

Do you believe all this praying is worth it?  Let me suggest that we can never discount the power of such praying.  A vivid example comes from Scripture.  In Acts 12 we read of the apostle Peter being taken prisoner by King Herod.  There were four squads of soldiers guarding Peter and he was bound in chains.  There was absolutely no way he was going to escape on his own!

Then, we read these words:  "While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him."  (Acts 12:5)  Do you think this made a difference?  It most certainly did!  As Luke tells us:  "Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell."  (verse 7)  An angel woke Peter up from sleeping and Peter's chains fell off and escorted him out of the prison.

Sometimes, we wonder about the effectiveness of such praying since it seems to go on week after week in many churches throughout our land and the world.  Yet, we can never undervalue the power and effectiveness of the church praying.  Maybe one day God will surprise us for what we have been praying. Church - keep on praying!

My Food Pantry Prayers

Every Thursday afternoon I go downstairs to the food pantry at the church and have a time of prayer with the volunteers minutes before the pantry opens.  As I do so, it reminds me that the pantry is indeed a ministry  in itself. I pray in recognition that the pantry is a God-given opportunity to reach out to people, to be Jesus hands and feet to those in our neighboring communities.

Here are usually the points in my prayer.

1.  Thank God for the volunteers (usually seven to eight people show up to help each week)
2.  Thank God for the food that has arrived during the week from local grocery stores or from donations by individuals.
3.  Pray for the clients who come that they not only will be nourished by the food they receive, but also experience God's love by coming to the pantry.
4.  Pray for the clients to be strengthened in their daily lives and be able to cope with the many issues that they must be facing, that go beyond their need for food.

As I have greeted the clients arriving and have had some time to chat with them, some of them have revealed their need for personal prayer.  I am able to offer up their concerns to God.

Yes, the act of praying keeps me firmly rooted in this being a ministry.

[Elsie's Food Pantry is a joint ministry of Savior Divine Lutheran Church and Moraine Valley Community Church]

The Comfort of Many Prayers

Recently, my mother entered respite care.  Hopefully, it will only be a short duration.  I have been praying for her in my daily prayers.  Her name is also lifted up on Sundays in my church.

This past week, someone I know mentioned that her church has also been praying for my mother.  This made me stop and think of the many prayers being offered up on behalf of her.  The church at large comes into play.

In addition to these prayers, there are the prayers by Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is one who intercedes to God the Father for us.  The Holy Spirit prays as well in sighs too deep for us to comprehend.

It's quite a feeling to know how the community of the church and also the divine being of God all play a role in the concern for one individual.  It makes me feel that we are never alone in this world, even in our greatest time of need.

While Praying - Anything Can Happen

A couple of Sundays ago, I had preached on the story of Peter having a special vision that resulted in him going to the home of Cornelius where his family heard the good news and were baptized. (Acts 11)

Here's what really struck me about this story...

Cornelius was praying and all of a sudden an angel appears before him.  The angel instructs him to send a messenger to Peter and ask him to come.  (Acts 10:30-32)

Then, we have Peter who is praying in Joppa and while praying he has a vision.  It's one of a large sheet filled with animals coming down from heaven.  Peter is told to eat the animals even though they are unclean.  The long story short -- is that Peter would end up at the home of Cornelius because God's word is now being extended to the Gentiles.

What blew me away was what happened to both Peter and Cornelius while praying.  I don't know if anything as dramatic as what they experienced would happen to us, but it does make me see something about praying and connecting to God.  I believe we never know what God can do. Maybe a special thought will enter your mind.  Maybe the phone will ring with news you have been waiting to hear.  So, how is it with your praying?  Do you believe that in connecting with God, God wants to intervene in your life?

Praying in Old Age

"Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent."  Psalm 71:9

Prayer is a lifelong adventure.  There is always something for which to pray.  We are never too old in which to pray.  Hopefully we grow in our praying through the years.

As we enter old age our situation also changes.  We might find our health declining, and we might find that more of our friends (and family) have died.  Loneliness might become an issue for us.  While much in our lives might be declining, we might simply find ourselves leaning more on faith.  Our faith may be given more attention.  Then, too, we might be preparing ourselves for our heavenly home.

The psalmist here may have struggled with many difficult situations throughout life; yet, in old age is still willing to remain faithful to God.  God can still be trusted.  It might be the one resource that will sustain us - even in our old age.