I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5
I continue a pause of my study of Zechariah and of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book. Today, my preparation to lead Sunday school at my church, where our class is doing a study on prayer based on the book by A Praying Life, moves along. I pick up today in chapter 5 - Spending Time with Your Father. Here, the book starts by exploring why Jesus prayed in the morning - alone. It shares three clues:
- Jesus cannot do anything without His Heavenly Father. We are referred to John 5:19, 30, 8:28, and 12:49; apart from Jesus, we can do nothing - John 15:5.
- Time alone with someone is an expression of love - when Jesus ministered to people in His ministry, He focused on just them and this is how we are to pray - alone with Him.
- We need to get away from others to focus - see Matthew 6:6.
Next, the book shares how any relationship - and all believers should strive to build a daily, lifelong, relationship with Jesus - requires time with that person.
Prayer in the morning - while not required vs other times of the day - is supported in scripture via Psalm 5:3,59:16, 88:13, and 143:8.
Chapter 5 ends with a discussion on overcoming objections to spending time in prayer - such as busyness, and an encouragement to take baby steps in our prayer life.
Chapter 6 - Learning to be Helpless - emphasizes how prayer is a demonstration of how we are helpless without God and God wants us to come to Him - see Matthew 11:28. Jesus lives to help us - the book gives us just a few of the many examples in scripture where Jesus meets people in their need. We must acknowledge first that without God we would be nothing and can do nothing and similarly if we are not praying it is an acknowledgement that we think we can do this alone without God - how arrogant!
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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of amazing grace for me - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You saved me and love me. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
