Dear Lord Jesus, Please help me to hear and to understand the message that you want to share with me and through me. I feel distracted and overwhelmed today, please quiet my mind and my heart with your Holy Spirit and fill me with your peace and inspiring message. Amen.
Luke 11:1-8
1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples”
2 He said to them, “ When you pray, say:
“Father,
hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day jour daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive
everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loves of bread;
6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’
7 Suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything’
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
What I take away from Jesus’s prayer and story is that God Has No Limits!
No Limits on Time, No limits on patience, No limits on power, or resources!
We can never out ask God. God’s door is always open. He is never too busy or too tired to listen to what we need to ask him. We can be like the neighbor in the story with our “shameless audacity” pounding on his door at all hours of the day or night! We can and should continue to ask God for all of our daily needs! He wants to let it all out and put it all in his hands!
Many times I feel overwhelmed by the great needs that people have. I want to help but I don’t know how. I pray with them and for them, but not always sure what else I can do. Some have financial need, some have health issues, while others have emotional issues and relationship issues. So much hurt, so much pain!
Then God reminded me in Sunday’s service , that as I pour out all of these needs to him, he is able to take care of all of our needs, everyday. All he asks us to do is to seek him, and to trust him and then follow him!
He may ask you to help with a specific need: help a neighbor, visit someone who is sick our lonely, bless someone financially or with something they need. We never know how God is going to use us to carry out his plan and purpose for us.
The other thing is, that we can come to God and seek his forgiveness, no matter what we have done in our past, no matter what we have said or thought. If we willing surrender ourselves to God and turn away from our past wrongs and seek his forgiveness, he will always forgive us. There is no limit to God’s forgiveness!
There is an old song that just came to mind, from Lamentations 3, the words are:
“ The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
His mercies never come to an end,
They are new every morning!
Great is thy faithfulness, Oh Lord!”
Are we praying without ceasing? Are we motivated to pray in all circumstances and keep praying? Are we waiting on God, trusting him with our whole heart and leaning on him? I know I am still learning to do this, it is a daily lesson to let go of my agenda and be open and available to follow God’s agenda for me. And daily he reveals a little bit more of his plan!
Lord Jesus, I come to you today, with shameless audacity because I want All of you and all that you have for me today!
Please help me to surrender my will to you and receive your will into my heart. I pray today that your kingdom will come and your will be done as you lead me and guide me. Amen!
PD