A Daily Devotion for Monday, July 14
- ontrakk
- 6 hours ago
- 1 min read
Luke 18:1
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
There are reasons why we are instructed to pray. Some of the reasons seem obvious, but some less so. It seems unlikely to me that God is really interested in all of the trivial concerns of my day. On the other hand, in any relationship, communication is key. Communication strengthens bonds and promotes clearer understanding. Even though our conversations with God can feel one-sided, we know they are not. The more we listen, the more we hear God’s responses to us.
Holy Lord, you are listening, and I know this is true. I will try to be better at listening, too. Amen
Becky, transforming
1 John 5:13-15 and Luke 18:1 Pray First
Like biblical author, Eugene Peterson's, "The Message," today's author tell us very clearly, using a metaphor we can understand, to use prayer as our first option not a last resort. He compares prayer to a steering wheel that guides us. We should not think of prayer as a spare tire to only be used in emergencies. This is often what happens when we try to control a situation, instead of turning to God right away not when things are out of control.
Prayer: Gracious God, Praying first is always my goal. However, this reminder is a good one. I always need your guidance. AMEM
Luke 18:1 This opening verse of chapter 18 invites one to read further to learn what parable was taught. It was the parable of the persistent widow. Persistence in prayer can be challenging, especially if year after year we pray and see nothing really change. The mother of the thief on the cross may have prayed everyday for her son to get right with God. She may well have died before her son, yet, if she was indeed a praying mother, her prayers were answered. If we feel in our deepest heart our prayer is the will of God, we must pray without ceasing. Our persistence is a measure of our faith and not our doubt.
Prayer - Merciful God, I…