Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

WHEN YOU PRAY

This entry was posted on 11-17-2008 and is filed under uncategorized.

Our Lord prayed and He wants us to pray. He was a man of prayer and He desires us to be men and women of prayer. If Jesus felt the need to pray, what about you and me?

"Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.' So He said to them, 'When you pray...'" (Luke 11:1,2 NKJV). Only those who are proficient at prayer can teach others to pray. Jesus is the Master Teacher in this regard. Notice first of all that Jesus did not say, "If you pray." He fully expects those who follow Him to be a people of prayer. So He said, "When you pray." By this He did not mean, "When you feel like it, pray." Many times we do not feel like praying. That is the time to pray. Pray until you feel like you are connecting with God through Jesus Christ.

Yesterday at church one of the elders began the service by inviting members and visitors to write down their prayer request. "This is a praying church," he said. The elders pray for the needs of the flock. Members pray for one another. Not every church can say, "This is a praying church." But this one can because it does. I think this is what Jesus wants in every church. After all, He built it (Matt. 16:18). The church should reflect Jesus in every way. And nothing is more vital to a church that to be in constant communion with God as Jesus was. "When you pray..." Not "if" or "when you feel like it." "When you pray..." Start today!

Hymn: "At the blessed hour of prayer, trusting Him, we believe that the blessing we're needing we'll surely receive; in the fullness of this trust we shall lose every care; what a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there! (Fanny J. Crosby)