Luke 11:1-13 (NRSV)
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Chapter 11He 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." Verse 2He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Verse 3Give us each day our daily bread. Verse 4And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." Verse 5And 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; Verse 6for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' Verse 7And 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.' Verse 8I 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. Verse 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. Verse 10For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Verse 11Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Verse 12Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? Verse 13If 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!"
Devotion
Often our prayers contain lists of people we worry about, big decisions we must make, and troubles we are facing. These things matter. They make up the stuff of our lives, and God listens and cares deeply about all of it. But that's not the kind of prayer Jesus chooses to teach his disciples at this moment. He teaches them a life-shaping pattern of praying. It's not only about the stuff of our lives, but the way of being as we go through life.
Praying as Jesus teaches is about setting God's name as holy in our lives and orienting ourselves around God's kingdom. We seek what we need from God and recognize God's care when we are gifted with shelter and food, meaningful work and relationships. We live out forgiveness and fight against the temptations that the flesh, the world, and the devil throw at us. All of this indeed takes prayer, for it is not a path we can walk by ourselves.
Prayer
Jesus, teach me to pray, and shape my faith and life as I live my days with you. Amen.