From September 2 to November 25 we will be writing reflections based on the scripture passage, Luke 11:1-13 and its theme of Prayer. We will take one verse per week and invite you to join us in first meditating and digesting this passage slowly using lectio divina and then read the reflection. Our writers will be sharing testimony of how this scripture has impacted their lives personally.
Listen:
“For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:10 NLT)
Reflect:
How is your prayer life? Whether brand new or a seasoned saint, it doesn’t take long for us all to understand that a very important part of having a relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit happens through prayer. From Genesis to Revelation humanity learns what it means to interact with the God of the Universe. The bible records more than 650 specific prayers within its inspired pages.
Perhaps the best model of all, Jesus Himself taught us how to pray. He prayed for healing and deliverance of countless people during His time of ministry on earth. Jesus fasted in prayer, prayed prayers of praise and thanksgiving, for unity for His disciples and all believers, for protection and sanctification of His church, for His own will and submission to the Father’s plan, for forgiveness of His persecutors, for resurrection for the dead, and for those who would believe through His disciples. Those are powerful prayer examples to follow!
In Luke 11, Jesus taught His disciples a prayer model. In verse 10 He says that when we pray there will be a response from heaven. It doesn’t mean we’ll get a yes, but a guarantee that we will receive more of God the Father, we find more of Him and less of our flesh, and the door will be opened to living more in His strength and will and less in our own. And when we “pray unceasingly” as Paul advises us to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we’ll find ourselves living more closely in alignment and submission to God’s plans for us and less in response to the cry of our flesh. What a beautiful life pursuit!
Prayer of Response:
Father, You are holy and You are the giver of ALL good gifts! Reveal who You are to me in fresh revelation. I trust Your will in my life here on earth just as You rule from heaven. Thank You for Your provision of our daily food and I repent of my sin (pause and invite the Holy Spirit to bring any to mind that you can confess). With the joy of my own grace-filled forgiveness, enable me to forgive those who have wronged me and I willingly release me and them from any grudges I am holding. Protect me from the devil and his schemes by the power of the blood and holy name of Jesus! Holy Spirit, please help me to have wisdom to stay out of traps laid before me by the lies of the enemy! In Jesus’ Holy Name I pray! Amen!
Questions to Ponder:
- Have you developed an active, regular prayer life?
- How beautiful to follow the Lord’s model for prayer:
“Pray then like this: Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Jesus, teaching on prayer in Matthew 6: 9-15) - Is there something you’ve been holding back from the Lord in prayer? Bring it to Him today in repentance and humility! Ask, seek, knock in faith! Amen!
Breath Prayers:
Join us in praying breath prayers each day. We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale (Breathe in): Father, you are holy and worthy.
Exhale (Breathe out): I submit to your will above mine.
Inhale (Breathe in): Holy Spirit, teach me to pray in alignment.
Exhale (Breathe out): Thank you Jesus, for providing access to the Father in your name.
—Submitted by: Traci Morrow
Traci lives in Colorado with her husband of 35 years, KC. They have 6 adult kids they’re crazy about, 4 favorite kids through marriage, 4 adored grandkids + 2 more on the way! 🥳 She mentors women and men to live a life by design and not default in community through Growth Tables. Traci & KC regularly pour into young couples as marriage mentors. Traci has authored the book, Real-Life Marriage; Navigating Your Beautiful, Messy, One-Of-A-Kind Love Story, an Amazon best seller.