Prayer Devotional - Monday

Devotionals

  1. Let's start by reading Matthew 6:5-15.

    2. 5 "When you pray, do not be like those who only pretend to be holy. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They want to be seen by others. What I'm about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward.     6 "When you pray, go into your room. Close the door and pray to your Father, who can't be seen. He will reward you. Your Father sees what is done secretly.     7 "When you pray, do not keep talking on and on the way ungodly people do. They think they will be heard because they talk a lot. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask him.  

    9 "This is how you should pray.  
    " 'Our Father in heaven,   
    may your name be honored. 
    10 May your kingdom come.
       May what you want to happen be done
          on earth as it is done in heaven.
    11 Give us today our daily bread.
    12 Forgive us our sins,
          just as we also have forgiven those who sin against us.
    13 Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.
       Save us from the evil one.'

        14 "Forgive people when they sin against you. If you do, your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive people their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
    Matthew 6:5-15 NIV (reader's version)
  2. This is Jesus' first and most comprehensive teaching on prayer. Start by looking through it and making a list of the things this lesson teaches us about God the Father (including that He is your Father). List them one at a time down the left side of a piece of paper skipping lines between each one.
  3. Now take a moment and reflect on each observation you have made.  What does each characteristic say about your relationship with God; or about God Himself?  Have you understood this about God before?  Do you pray like you believe this?  Do you live like you believe it?  Write a brief response beside each one.
    For example, my first observation was "God can't be seen."  When I reflected on that I was struck by how ironic it is that the One who has the most reason of all to brag, instead spends His time unseen --while the rest of us try to strut and brag.  I was overwhelmed by how empty my bragging really is.
  4. Now acknowledge God as the One about whom all of these characteristics are true and praise Him!  Tell Him you come to Him based on knowing this about Him.  Remember on Sunday we said, "Who one believes God to be is most accurately revealed not in any credo but in the way one speaks to God when no one else is listening." (Nancy Mairs)  During this time we are getting it right about God!  This is critically important to prayer.
  5. Next, let's offer a confession.  "God I have not loved you with my whole heart and I have not loved my neighbor as myself."  Now get specific and tell Him where you came up short.
  6. God has forgiven you, so let go of any guilt or shame!
  7. If there is any person that you have not forgiven, or anyone toward whom you are harboring anger or resentment you need to release this anger and unforgiveness.  Allow God to help you do this now!  Turn them over to Jesus and pray for God to bless them.
  8. Next let's pray for ourselves in relationship to others:
    1. Identify one family member - whoever God leads you to - and ask God to help you be what He wants you to be for that person today.
    2. Identify one Gateway person - whoever God leads you to - and ask God to help you be what He wants you to be for that person today.
    3. Identify one co-worker or friend - whoever God leads you to - and ask God to help you be what He wants you to be for that person today.
  9. Next bring to God any pressing needs that you know about concerning other people.
  10. Now bring our country to God's attention.  Identify one specific concern to pray about and tell God about it.
  11. Pray for your own needs.  Focus on what your concerns are for today.  As long-term concerns come up pray for the strength to do today what you need to do about them.  This is the time to bring to God's attention the list you created on your offloading sheet.
  12. Jot down any final thoughts.  This could be positive feelings.  This could be more offloading concerns.  This could be questions.  It could even be some struggle you have discovered.  Thanks God that He is in control and that it's all in His hands.

Okay, get going.  Do not pass "Go."  You don't even need the $200.  You've got something much better!

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