Week of January 14, 2002
Debbie B.

"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.' He said to them, 'When you pray, say: Father hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.'"
     Philippians Luke 11:1-4

"Lord, teach us to pray!"

Jesus was always taking time to pray. His disciples saw this and they knew that it was good and they asked Jesus to teach them to pray also. Jesus gave his disciples this special prayer, we call it the Lord's Prayer.

Sometimes when I pray the Lord's Prayer, I do not treat it as a special prayer at all. It just becomes another task before I start or end a busy day. This is not how Jesus intended for his prayer to be said and this is not how my soul wants to pray it. Martin Luther says that ". . .the flesh and the devil always impede and obstruct prayer." When I find that my prayer ceases to come from my heart and that my soul is not a part of it, what can I do? More prayer! In Luther's book, "A Simple Way to Pray," he says that ". . when I feel that I have become cool and joyless in prayer . . . . I take my little Psalter, hurry to my room ... " More prayer! When your prayer becomes just another task, who better to help you then your Father in Heaven.

Prayer:
Lord, teach us to pray. Amen

Contributed by Debra B.
Published Monday January 14, 2002
Week 7 of Liturgical Year A