Today I would like to share another devotion I wrote for Philanthropy Fashion.
PhilanthropyFashion.com – It’s all about the prayer!
One of the things that drew me to Philanthropy besides the obvious things—the great people working at their stores, the beautiful clothes and their unique style—was that they were a retail company that has a mission for prayer and to change people’s lives. Philanthropy considers it a privilege to intercede on behalf of those who cross their paths and is evidenced by the prayer chapels in each store.
As Christian believers, we are to live a life of prayer. It is our joy and honor to pray for others and is an important part of our Christian life. In the Old Testament, only the High Priest was able to enter the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctuary where the presence of God dwelt in Tabernacle.
We now have direct access to God the Father since Jesus tore the veil. We can talk to God like we talk to our friends. Anywhere. Anytime. We have direct access to the same God who spoke the world into existence, and yet He is the same God that knew us in our Mother’s womb and numbers every hair on our head.
Not only did Jesus make way for us to have direct access to communicate to God the Father, but he also modeled for us on several occasions how to prayer. Prayer was an important part of Jesus’ life, and it should be an important part of our life as well.
Throughout the book of Luke, Jesus gives us several examples of prayer. Let’s take a look at some of those examples.
What a beautiful picture we see here as Jesus prays and the heavens opened. When Jesus is baptized, and the Holy Spirit descends upon him in Luke 3:21-22 ESV we see Jesus is praying.
“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” – Luke 3:21-22 ESV
The night before Jesus called the disciples, Luke says that Jesus prayed all night to God.
“In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.” – Luke 6:12 ESV
From this, we learn that when Jesus had an important decision to make, he committed his decision to prayer. We can learn from His example, and when we have difficult decisions to make we should also commit them to prayer, even praying all night if necessary.
In Luke 9:18 Jesus prays alone as he was with the disciples, and He asks them”Who do the crowds say I am?” They answer, with various answers like John the Baptist, Elijah, or a prophet of old, but Peter confesses Jesus as Christ. Jesus was in constant communication with the Father, even when he was with others.
Later in that same chapter of Luke in verse 28, we see the Transfiguration of the Lord. As Jesus prays “the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.” The glory of God changed the countenance of Jesus, and it will transform us too! Spending time in prayer and praise changes our whole demeanor.
Finally, in Luke 11, one of his disciples asks Jesus to teach us how to pray. Jesus responds with what we now know as the Lord’s Prayer by giving us the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11:3-4 (below in the ESV)
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
Jesus’ example to us was, to begin with, praise to the Father. Acknowledge His will and His Kingdom, and to ask God for our daily provision. We should ask for the forgiveness of our sins and forgive others who sin against us. Finally, leading us not to temptation.
Prayer was important to Jesus, and prayer should be important to us too! If you have a prayer request, you may leave it below, or just leave your name or a word. God intimately knows your situation, and we would be honored to pray for you.
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