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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville Tennessee United States for Wednesday, 30 May 2018 "A Way of Life" by Linda Kinde (Ohio) Luke 11:1-13
Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV))
In the spring of 2002 I was trying to find my way back to God. Having planted about ten impatiens plants around our hickory tree, I was using my plant-watering time as an opportunity to pray for family, close friends, and my country and its leaders. Each plant represented a person, and I kidded our daughter that her flower was the largest and most beautiful.
Something as simple as watering plants became a time to both talk and listen to God. For me it was an eagerly awaited, peaceful time. It led to prayer times indoors on rainy days. Gradually, prayer has become a regular part of my morning routine regardless of the weather. It is easy to be thankful during the early spring and summer sunrises that give me so much joy. But my joy carries over to the gray days as well, when I find just as much to be thankful for.
My plant-watering prayer time has led me to pray throughout the day — when I seek special guidance or want to give thanks for the times when God’s guidance upheld me in difficult situations. Prayer has indeed led me back to God and has become for me a way of life.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear God, direct us to find times to communicate with you. Help us to listen for your wisdom and guidance. Amen.TODAY'S READING: 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).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A simple prayer can open my life to God’s presence.
PRAYER FOCUS: Someone learning to pray.
***
Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV))
In the spring of 2002 I was trying to find my way back to God. Having planted about ten impatiens plants around our hickory tree, I was using my plant-watering time as an opportunity to pray for family, close friends, and my country and its leaders. Each plant represented a person, and I kidded our daughter that her flower was the largest and most beautiful.
Something as simple as watering plants became a time to both talk and listen to God. For me it was an eagerly awaited, peaceful time. It led to prayer times indoors on rainy days. Gradually, prayer has become a regular part of my morning routine regardless of the weather. It is easy to be thankful during the early spring and summer sunrises that give me so much joy. But my joy carries over to the gray days as well, when I find just as much to be thankful for.
My plant-watering prayer time has led me to pray throughout the day — when I seek special guidance or want to give thanks for the times when God’s guidance upheld me in difficult situations. Prayer has indeed led me back to God and has become for me a way of life.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear God, direct us to find times to communicate with you. Help us to listen for your wisdom and guidance. Amen.TODAY'S READING: 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).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A simple prayer can open my life to God’s presence.
PRAYER FOCUS: Someone learning to pray.
***
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