"The God Pause Daily Devotionals" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, July 21, 2016 with Scripture Luke 11:1-13

"The God Pause Daily Devotionals" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, July 21, 2016 with Scripture Luke 11:1-13

Luke 11:1 One time Yeshua was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of the talmidim said to him, “Sir, teach us to pray, just as Yochanan taught his talmidim.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

‘Father,

May your name be kept holy.

May your Kingdom come.

3 Give us each day the food we need.

4 Forgive us our sins, for we too forgive everyone who has wronged us.

And do not lead us to hard testing.’”

5 He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend; and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine who has been travelling has just arrived at my house, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ 7 Now the one inside may answer, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already shut, my children are with me in bed — I can’t get up to give you anything!’ 8 But I tell you, even if he won’t get up because the man is his friend, yet because of the man’s hutzpah he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

9 “Moreover, I myself say to you: keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who goes on asking receives; and he who goes on seeking finds; and to him who continues knocking, the door will be opened.

11 “Is there any father here who, if his son asked him for a fish, would instead of a fish give him a snake? 12 or if he asked for an egg would give him a scorpion? 13 So if you, even though you are bad, know how to give your children gifts that are good, how much more will the Father keep giving the Ruach HaKodesh from heaven to those who keep asking him!”[Complete Jewish Bible]

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The best definition of prayer I ever heard was that prayer is "turning ourselves God-ward." Prayer is not simply an essay or petition, but our whole being turning towards God. When we do that, we surrender our own authority. This also means we assume we find God in whatever answer to our prayer may come. We pray for health and long life, and we presume God is present in our sickness and dying. We pray for peace and believe God is present in conflict and discord. We pray for the needs of life and believe God is present among the poor. In fact, there are many hints in scripture that we can expect to find God closest to us when we immerse ourselves in the needs of the neighbor--among the poor and sick and widows and orphans and victims of gun violence and those dying of AIDS and Zika viruses.
O God, you invite us to bring our prayers to you, and promise to answer. Help us elevate our prayers beyond personal wish lists, in order that we might seek your presence in all things that come our way today. Amen.
Peter Rogness
Retired Bishop, ELCA
Master of Divinity , 1972
Luke 11:1 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."
2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial."
5 And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;
6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7 And he answers from within, "Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.'
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?
12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"[New Revised Standard Version]
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