This should have gone out much earlier today. Here are three readings we considered at our prayer service this evening:
Daniel 9:1-19. I love the humility. I love the focus on confession. I love the ground and basis of Daniel’s prayer toward the end, on the mighty saving acts of God, his mercy, God’s own reputation. Can you hear the earnestness of Daniel’s cries? Oh that we we pray with such desperation and appeal continually to the mercies of God. I love the appeal that God would honor again the place/people on which he had put his Name. And where has God put his Name today? And keep reading to see the awesome response of God to these humble prayers.
Colossians 4:2-18. We read Paul’s exhortation to devoted prayer. We see the example of Epaphras “wrestling in prayer.”
Luke 11:1-13 We see the example of Jesus in prayer. We learn from his teachings: The great outline for prayer–our Lord’s prayer. The example of boldness and persistence. The focus on the goodness and generosity of our Heavenly Father. The promise of prayers answered–especially those prayers which seek the gift of God’s Spirit.
How can we read these and not be moved to cry out to our Father who loves us and longs to bless us?