Devotionals

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What do you buy a man who has everything? What can you say to God?

The disciples asked our Lord "Teach us how to pray". They had prayers aplenty, I would imagine, that they would say in their synagogues. Just like today the Jews have their Siddur, which is a book full of prayers. So this appears a strange question. Was it because they saw the intimacy and regularity with which Jesus prayed, and wanted to know what He did and what words He used?

Or was it that they now believed that there was a special connection that Jesus had, and that they could have now that the Messiah had come. Did they see the special connection and want in?

The fact remains, that if we are going to talk to God - which is still the best definition of prayer - we need to know what to say. But what do you say to God? What divine words are necessary? What can we say that will be reverent enough? What can we say that will not rile Him? What can we say that will endear us to Him? What will touch God's heart? What will bridge the gap between His royalty and power, and our mean creatureliness?

There were times when a king would have a person killed for entering into his presence unbeckoned. Remember King Xerxes and Esther? - If I perish, I perish. Is that how we enter into His presence? Under fear of death?

Jesus tells His disciples and us to pray 'Our Father, who art in Heaven'. This is not a calling card. It is not an apprehensive, anxious knock on the royal divine door. Neither is it beggarly obeisance, groveling at His feet. It is not words of manipulation or a password and user name to His heavenly email.
It is the call of a child to the One who gave it birth and is its life and delight and source of all.

I heard of a child - and I am sure he or she was not the only one- who on hearing The Lord's Prayer, as we call it, thought that God's name was Harold. That is what he or she heard when they said 'Hallowed be Thy Name'. Of course, His Name is not Harold, it is 'Father'.

Jesus said " I have revealed your Name to the people you gave me" John 17:6 ESV


That Name is not just a Name it is a revelation. Jesus came to make that Name known.


Pray without ceasing. The Father, it seems does not mind incessant chatter- if it is to Him.

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