"Lighting the Fire"
Jotting – Week 8
Prayer
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod World Mission Purpose Statement reads:
Prayer
Praying to the Lord of the Harvest, LCMS World Mission, in collaboration with its North American and worldwide partners, will share the Good News of Jesus with 100 million unreached or uncommitted people by the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.
“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession” (Psalm 2:8).
The purpose statement of LCMS World Mission intentionally begins with prayer. Truly, prayer is most important in any effort to share the Good News of Jesus with others for whom Christ Jesus died, for our Lord says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
The Second Response of the Ablaze! movement is Prayer. Most likely, you have heard a dozen or more definitions or explanations of prayer: talking to God; communication with God; telling God what’s on your heart; being able to talk to God anytime, anywhere. We’re all familiar with the greatest prayer that Jesus taught His disciples–and us: the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4).
When we search Scripture, we find abundant examples of prayer as well as great people who prayed: from Abraham who prayed for healing for Abimelech (Genesis 20:17-18) to Moses who prayed at different times for forgiveness and mercy for God’s people (Exodus 32:32), for God’s grace and direction (Exodus 33:13), and for the healing from leprosy for Miriam (Numbers 12:13); to Gideon who asked for signs from the Lord (Judges 6:39); to David who in many psalms praised God, sought His guidance, forgiveness, and peace; to Jesus Himself who often went off by Himself to pray (Matthew 14:23); to Paul who thanked God constantly for the faith of others (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
How Do You Pray
Do you have a special time alone with God? Do you know how to pray “on your own” or do you use only memorized prayers? Learning to know God’s heart means spending time in prayer. Setting aside a time each day, even five minutes of concentrated effort to talk to the Lord, will boost your faith and undergird your actions. Once you start, it’s easy to add a few minutes to your time over a period of days or weeks.
"None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those who have learned it by experience. It is a great matter when in extreme need to take hold on prayer. I know, whenever I have prayed earnestly, that I have been amply heard, and have obtained more than I prayed for. God indeed sometimes delayed, but at last He came" (Martin Luther in Table Talk).
One way to start praying is by simply telling God what you are thinking and feeling. God knows our hearts, certainly, but when we express our thoughts to Him, we discover the burden is lifted, that peace is given. To help him pray, Martin Luther was known to go into his room daily and recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments.
“Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious” (Psalm 66:1-2). Beginning a prayer with praise can help bring one’s focus to God: His greatness and power, His attributes and love. Look through the psalms and mark any that are songs of praise (21, 33, 66, 67, 99, 100, 104). Use these to “jump start” your time with God or listen to music or songs based on the psalms. Then add your own praise, concentrating on one or two attributes of God and what He accomplishes for you through them.
“Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth” (Psalm 105:4-5). During your prayer time, remind God of Scripture promises. God already knows what He has promised, but He wants us to know assurance and confidence that He will do what He has said.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Confess your sins to God. Use the Psalms, such as 6, 25, 51, or 130 to begin. Think through the Ten Commandments and confess your negligence in keeping each one. Ask for forgiveness for the sins of your family, your congregation, your community, the nation. Always rely on God’s mercy, knowing He does forgive for the sake of Jesus.
Jesus said, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22). Ask for others: name names and places and circumstances. In this list, include missions and missionaries. Add to your list as you learn more about what your congregation, the Texas District, and Synod are doing and what their needs are (for information on the Texas District, go to http://www.txdistlcms.org ; for information on what the LCMS is doing, go to http://www.lcms.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=887 ) .
Jesus also said, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10). Ask for yourself: lift up your own needs to the Lord. Again, He knows what you need, but by stating them, in a sense you release them into His care and keeping. Ask the Lord to give you opportunities to share your faith, the eyes to see those circumstances, and the words to say at that time.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Ask God to set a hedge about you, your family, your congregation, His Church for protection and deliverance from the evil one. Pray that the devil’s power may be weakened, his strongholds broken.
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!” (1 Chronicles 16:8). Thank God in all things, for specific answers to prayers, for the blessings He has given you, for the family of faith, for opportunities to speak of Him to others, for being able to serve Him, and most of all, for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Pray: Lord, teach us to pray. Amen.