Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Luke recorded, "One of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray.'" Luke 11:1, NKJV

Oh! Come on now! The disciples didn't know how to pray?
They were, after all Jewish men, so prayers were a part of their daily lives.
Examples of prayers of confession, petition, thanksgiving, praise, recollection and intercession are found throughout the Testaments. The practice of prayer was also observed in pagan societies.
Morning prayers were a normal ritual, as expressed by the Psalmist, "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." (Ps. 5:1-3)
The psalmist's prayer demonstrates several elements of prayer. My dictionary suggests that to pray is to ask for interposition and judgment, to cry or call out, to seek (the face of) to request, to inquire, (of an oracle) to intercede, to pour out one's heart. To pray is also to ask humbly and earnestly, an act of adoration. John the Baptist taught his disciples a way of praying. The Pharisees made a show of public prayer. The disciples were emersed in a society steeped in prayer and prayers, and of practices both pious and pompus.
For one thing, the Pharisees publicly prayed loudly and long, wearing the prescribed phylacteries (small leather cases that contain four passages of old testament scriptures) one on the forehead, and the other on the left hand. (See Mt. 23:5)
The intended purpose for the phylacteries was to serve as a reminder of what the Lord had done for them by bringing them out of Egypt, and that "the Lord's law may be in your mouth." (Ex. 13:8-10; 16) In essence, these prayers were more "How great I am," rather than, "O LORD, how great Thou art!) Jesus denounced the practice.
Jesus obviously engaged in a type of prayer that differed quite noticeably from the practices in vogue. Rather than rote recitation (routine or repetition carried out mechanically or unthinkingly) Jesus' prayers were a two-way conversation with His Father. Each prayer was fitted to the need and the occasion. Jesus also prayed in the common Aramaic language, rather than the more formal Hebrew.
So, Lord, how do you do this? Teach us to pray like you do, rather than like what we have been seeing and doing.
Think about the "Model Prayer" as a framework, the skeleton for your petitions. Flesh it out; use it as an anchor, a blueprint, a starting point. Pray in a spirit of adoration and reverence. Express your longings for God's kingdom to come, share your joys and sorrows, plead for your needs (not wants.)
Pray in a spirit of forgiveness; to forgive and be forgiven.
Pray in a Spirit of praise. Pray!
January 21, 2007

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Lk. 11:10“, NIV

The Pastor read us a passage from The Gospel of John at Bible study and asked if anything “leaped out” at us. I couldn’t claim any leaping thoughts on this occasion. I have read it many times, so no surprises or new thoughts here. Not that the passage wasn’t important, or had no revelations for the Christian reading it. Could have been! But not this time.
It does point out, however, that not every exploration is new and startling. We do not always go from an ‘up’ to an ‘upper-up’! Anyone who seeks will eventually find, but not every time. At least not gems undiscovered before.
Remember the fairy tale of the princess and the frog? When the princess finally overcame her repugnance at (Yech!) kissing a green amphibian, the frog turned into a handsome prince. But not every frog. Just this frog, who was originally a prince until crossing the path of the wrong witch. And just for this fairy tale. Consider the tee shirt emblazoned with the the motto, “You’ve got to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince.”
Point is, we never know what to expect, or what we will find, unless we seek.
So . . . do we stop reading scripture because we read a few verses, and nothing leaps out or envelops us in rapture? Not at all!
Consider the many times Jesus advised seeking and asking until we come upon that “pearl of great price.” Or knocking until the door of knowledge and understanding opens for us.
Archeologists are special seekers. They are looking for “old stuff.” Things people have left behind. And not just large items, either. Little things, like pieces of broken pottery, coins, nails and belt buckles. And the very appearance of the dirt itself. No back-hoes here! They go at it with spoons and even brushes, purposefully, cautiously, lest the slightest clue be destroyed. A change in the color of dirt can indicate where a wall, post or previous construction once existed. Pottery and coins can be used to date the site very precisely. Each bit of dirt is sifted to find even the smallest item. To you and me, that’s a lot of dirt and - trash. To the experienced archeologist, every tiny bit is worthy of rejoicing. The pearl of great price. The frog-to-prince. The “leaping out” of new knowledge.
But not every spoonful. Not every time. Sometimes one person sees things where another does not. A different angle, though, may bring a totally new viewpoint.
Become a Biblical Archeologist! Seek, ask, knock. Who knows when you will uncover a “Prince” of knowledge and understanding of God’s word for us.