Introduction:
One of our challenges
for 2014 is to learn and live all 50 commands
of Jesus. Jesus told us that following
his commandments is a way to love him and a way for his love and his joy to
fill our lives (John 15:9-12). In his
Great Commission, Jesus tells his followers to make disciples of all nations,
teaching them to obey everything he commanded us (Matthew 28:19-20). So each week in this year we are learning and
living one command of Jesus. Here is our
command for this week...
Week 4:
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and
pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you,” (Matthew 6:6).
Application:
The command for this week is: pray. It falls within the category of “Love God.” Prayer is a way that we can love God.
Think about a person you love. Can you imagine having a relationship with
that person without communication? Can
you imagine if that person never spoke to you or listened to you?
Prayer is our communication with God. It includes speaking to God and listening to
God. Jesus considered communication an
essential element in our relationship with God. Notice that Jesus said “when” you pray, not “if”
you pray. For Jesus, it’s not a matter
of if we pray, but when we pray.
Think again about a person you love. If you have been in a relationship with that
person for a length of time, chances are that you have struggled in your
communication. Communication is an art. It requires techniques and practice.
Thankfully, Jesus offers a lot of guidance in how we can
pray and what we can pray for. In the
passage above, Jesus suggests we find a place (like our room) where we can have
uninterrupted time with God. He says we
do not have to babble on and on because God knows what we need before we ask
(Mat 6:8). Jesus offers a model for
prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, which is commonly referred to as the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus commanded us to pray for people to join
God’s work in the world (Mat 9:38).
Jesus expressed his desire that God’s house of worship be a house of prayer
(Mat 21:13). Jesus told us to pray that
we do not fall into temptation (Mat 26:41).
The Good News is that Jesus promises a reward for those who
pray. What is the reward? The reward is God. Our aim is not to persuade or convince God to
do something. Our aim is to draw closer
to God – to open up to God’s love and power, to open up with God about our
deepest feelings and thoughts, to seek God’s guidance and leading, to align our
desires with God’s. The reward is a
close relationship with the Creator, Savior, and Sustainer of the universe.
Here’s our challenge for this week: Spend 5 minutes a day in prayer. Schedule a time each day that works for
you. Find a time and a place where you
can have uninterrupted time with God.
You don’t have to say anything.
You can simply rest in God’s presence and listen. If you want to speak, use some of Jesus’
suggestions listed above regarding how we can pray and what we can pray for.
Share your comments
and application ideas…
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