The disciples came to Jesus with a great request. “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). That has been my prayer. I’m certainly NOT an expert yet. I still have a lot to learn and plenty of room for improvement! However, this week, I’d like to suggest that we would do well to have a prayer list that includes ten items. After we pray through this short list, there will be plenty of time to pray for the litany of other needs that bombard us. Would you try this with me? Let’s pray...
1. Lord, make me aware of Your presence today.
The Bible teaches us that God is with every born-again believer. He promised. “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV) David sang of God’s omniscience and omnipresence. “Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me” (Psalm 139:7–10). God commanded Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Jesus even promised that His Holy Spirit will “remain with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).
We don’t need to waste time asking the Lord to be with us. He is. He promised. Rather, we need to ask God to make us aware of His powerful, personal presence, every day, all day.
We need to recognize that wherever we go, Jesus is with us. Remember, when we’re afraid, He is there. When we’re confused and need guidance, He is there. When we are enticed by the enemy, He is there.
2. Holy Father, give me a refreshed passion for prayer!
Jesus spent time in prayer each morning. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying” (Mark 1:35). When life got hectic, Jesus made time to pray. “He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). When He faced weighty decisions, “He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12).
Following the example of the Lord Jesus, we need to pray. But to have a refreshed prayer life isn’t as easy as making a New Year’s resolution. We need help. His help. Let’s ask the Almighty to urge us into His presence, to give us a new passion for seeking Him in prayer.
He has promised His assistance. Let’s ask for it! “The Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings” (Romans 8:26). He’ll help us know what to pray, and He’ll help us have a renewed passion to meet Him in prayer.
“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).
All Scripture quotations, except as otherwise noted, are from
Holman Bible Publishers’ Christian Standard Bible.
