In August 2010, the attention of the world was focused on a mine shaft near Copiapó, Chile. Thirty-three miners huddled in the dark, trapped 2,300 feet underground. They had no idea if help would ever arrive. After seventeen days of waiting, they heard drilling. Rescuers produced a small hole in the mine shaft ceiling, and that hole was followed by three more, establishing a delivery path for water, food, and medicine. The miners depended on those conduits to the surface above ground, where rescuers had the provisions they would need to survive. On day sixty-nine, rescuers pulled the last miner to safety.
Like the drill holes for those miners, prayer connects us to the Giving God.
Prayer is the key to our relationship with the Lord. Its a conversation with our Savior and we know the power of prayer, yet, do we stumble, get lazy or maybe even ignore this? If you are like me, you want to strengthen your prayer life.
In Luke 11:2-4 Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. He instructed them to begin by praising God, then we can make our requests. He then focused on forgiveness. We must understand that God has forgiven our sins and we are to do the same for those who have wronged us.
Jesus then used an example to show how persistence is important.
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 (NLT)
We can’t jump to the conclusion that we can ask for just any ‘want’. In Matthew 7:9-11 Jesus tells the disciples that God knows the things we need, He doesn’t just give what we ask for. I know God as a loving Father and I believe we will learn to ask for what is good for us. Since God is the creator of kindness, you know that He can be kind also.
Finally, Paul reminds us in a popular verse in his letter to the Philippians (4:6) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”
Enhance your prayer life beginning today.
Keep a prayer journal of what you pray about and record when you see or know the Lord has answered your prayer. You can use a spiral notebook, a bound journal or find some ‘app’ to use.
My other suggestion is to pray for others by name. Our God wants a personal relationship with us and with our friends and family. Doesn’t it make sense to ‘be personal’ and pray for people by name?
Keep on asking!
His faithful love endures forever.
Until next time...
Chaplain Gray
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