Praying With Purpose: Praise, Provision, And Forgiveness

>> Bible Verse Reading

Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:

‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

>> Opening Prayer & Introduction

Imagine a man stranded in the sea, desperately praying for help. He misses three boats that come to his rescue and ultimately drowns. When he reaches God, he asks why he wasn't saved, to which God replies, "I sent you three boats." This illustrates that sometimes it's important to act alongside prayer.

>> Background

Prayer is a vital form of communication with God, essential for any relationship, including our relationship with Him. Just as a husband and wife who stop talking to each other will face alarm bells in their relationship, our lack of communication with God can lead to spiritual disconnection. This is the lesson Jesus teaches us in this passage, and today, we will decode His words.

>> Verse Decode: Luke 11:1-4

The disciples were inspired by Jesus’ powerful prayers, prompting one to ask, "Lord, teach us how to pray." His response gives us a template for our prayers:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

>> Three Sections of the Prayer

> Praise:

We begin with reverence for God, recognizing His holiness and sovereignty.

> Physical Needs:

Jesus encourages us to ask for our daily bread, reminding us not to be overly ambitious. This approach keeps our focus on daily needs rather than greed, understanding that every day is like laying down one brick at a time toward a fulfilling life.

> Spiritual Needs:

Here, we ask for forgiveness, acknowledging our sins while committing to forgive others. The act of forgiving others is crucial; as we forgive, so shall we be forgiven.

>> The Action of Prayer

A prayer should lead to action, and action should lead to prayer. The way we treat others reflects our relationship with God. Some may curse while praying, but Jesus exemplified grace by forgiving even in His suffering. We must understand that it's not just about what we pray, but how we pray.

>> The Importance of Persistence

In Luke 11:5-8, we see a man seeking help at midnight. His persistence teaches us that prayer is often about resilience. In Luke 11:9-13, Jesus encourages us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking. Sometimes, we may not understand God's answers, just as the man in the drowning scenario didn’t recognize the boats sent to save him.

>> Conclusion

Prayer is our communication with God, and Jesus provides us the guide on how to pray—who to pray to, what to ask for, and how to relate to others. As we engage in this conversation with God, let us remember to praise Him, seek our daily needs, forgive others, and remain persistent in our prayers. May we keep asking, seeking, and knocking, trusting that God is always willing to help us.