Prayer

Luke 11: 1-13 Prayer

Opening Prayer, May the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts are pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

This morning’s Gospel is on prayer.

How would you define prayer?

The dictionary defines prayer as a reverent petition made to God. It is an act of communion with God, such as in devotion, confession, praise, or thanksgiving.

That sounds about right.

Many wonder is prayer important if so what priority should we place on prayer?

To answer these questions we can look at John the Baptist who was the greatest of all prophets according to Jesus (Luke 7:28).

As we know from Scripture John the Baptist was totally dependant on prayer.

Also, Scripture tells us that Jesus Christ the perfect Son of God depended on prayer.

So how much more do you and I need to pray?

The fact is the reason John the Baptist and Jesus prayed so much is that they understood that prayer is the provision for every need and the solution to every problem.

Prayer is what nourishes our spiritual relationship with God.

One day at a staff lunch at the White House, Lyndon Johnson’s press Secretary, Bill Moyers was saying grace. The President shouted out, speak up Bill! I can’t hear a thing. Mr. Moyers quietly replied, I was not addressing you Mr. President.

It is good to remind ourselves that when we pray, we talk to God.

So YES prayer is important, very important and is of the highest priority!

Martin Luther wrote the head of the family shall teach their household to say morning and evening prayers"

In the morning, when you rise, make the sign of the cross and I say, "In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles' Creed and the

Lord's Prayer.

Then you may say this prayer:

"I give Thee thanks, heavenly Father, through thy dear Son Jesus Christ, that Thou hast protected me through the night from all harm and danger. I beseech Thee to keep me this day, too, from all sin and evil, that in all my thoughts, words, and deeds I may please Thee. Into thy hands I commend my body and soul and all that is mine. Let

thy holy angels have charge of me, that the wicked one may have no power over me. Amen."

In the evening, when you retire, make the sign of the cross and say, "In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. Then you may say this prayer:

"I give Thee thanks, heavenly Father, through thy dear Son Jesus Christ, that Thou hast this day graciously protected me. I beseech Thee to forgive all my sin and the wrong which I have done. Graciously protect me during the coming night. Into thy hands I commend my body and soul and all- that is mine. Let thy holy angels have charge of me, that the wicked one may have no power over me. Amen."

Then quickly lie down and sleep in peace.

You may have noticed that both in today’s Gospel and also in the Martin Luther quotes from the Book of Concord the Lord’s Prayer is a prayer that we are told to say.

We call this the Lord’s Prayer NOT because Jesus prayed it, he never had to ask for forgiveness, but because Jesus taught it to his disciples and us.

There is a danger here with using pattern prayers. It is easy to recite the Lord’s Prayer and not really remember or understand what the words mean. Or mean the words when we say them.

The problem is not with the prayer it lies with us.

So this morning I would like to go over the Lord’s Prayer with you and reminds us all what the words really mean according to our Lutheran Confessions in the Book of Concord.

From the SMALL CATECHISM

LORD’S PRAYER

INTRODUCTION

"Our Father who art in heaven."

What does this mean?

Answer: Here God would encourage us to believe that he is truly our Father and we are truly his children in order that we may approach him boldly and confidently in prayer, even as- beloved children approach their dear father.

,

THE FIRST PETITION

"Hallowed be thy name."

What does this mean?

Answer: To be sure, God's name is holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may also be holy for us.

How is this done?

Answer: When the Word of God is taught clearly and purely and we, as children of God, lead holy lives in accordance with it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But whoever teaches and lives otherwise than as the Word of God teaches, profanes the name of God among us. From this preserve us, heavenly Father!