Transforming Encounters: The 40-Day Challenge (Luke)Näide

Even after 19 years of living in close communion with Jesus, I often find myself in a situation where I feel I need an answer to the request posed by the disciple in today’s words: “Lord, teach us how to pray!”

We hear so much about prayer, we know so much on an intellectual level, and yet from my own experience I can say that practice is different from theory. John G. Lake said: “There is a mighty lot of difference between saying prayers and praying.” Oh, how true! There are those “prayers” that we are all familiar with: wish lists, rituals, saying a quick grace before the first bite of food, assuring ourselves that God will protect us on a journey… and the like. And I don’t want to say that these prayers are wrong, but I believe that they are often not what prayer is in its essence – an encounter. When he begins his example of prayer with the words Our Father, Jesus gives us insight into the intimate nature of prayer. It is an encounter with the Father, an encounter with the living God who always has the power to transform and deeply affect all areas of life! Throughout this year’s series of challenges, we’re reflecting on various encounters that have occurred in the past, but let’s not miss opportunities for everyday encounters that have the power to change our present, future, and even the past!

Think about how sincere your desire is for the Lord to teach you to pray, and how ardent your need is to encounter your heavenly Father through prayer.