On Sunday, the Gospel reading (Luke 11:1-13) was Jesus teaching the disciples to pray. He gave them the words of the Lord's Prayer, then told them a parable, then a promise, then compared evil earthly Fathers who can give good gifts to Our Heavenly Father who will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.
It is the promise that my eyes were opened a bit more this time. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you." This comes in teaching the disciples to pray. After Jesus has given the words to pray, and telling a parable about persistence, then this promise, followed by how evil fathers even give good gifts to their children. This promise of asking and seeking and knocking isn't about my own individual worded prayers, but about the Lord's Prayer.
I should be that impudent neighbor asking, seeking, and knocking. The Lord's Prayer isn't to be prayed once and check it off the list, but to be prayed constantly. Morning, Noon, and Night, and even in between. In it Jesus teaches us to pray for what is needed most, and "how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
How simple it all seems when God opens our eyes to see. What should I pray? The Lord's Prayer. How often: Without ceasing. But won't that tire and bother God the Father? No!
1 comment:
We usually prayed the Lord's Prayer 2-3 times daily, together as a family, as part of devotions.
I remember when Andrew was about 4 or 5, and Gary teaching some group about prayer and what the catechism says. Section 3: look at it. Andrew started counting up. "How come we hardly ever say the Lord's Prayer?" What?? Then the munchkin tells us that the catechism says we should be praying it at least eight times a day.
Hmmm. He was right.
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