“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3
I continue pause 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. Picking up where I left off in chapter 3 Become Like a Little Child [In Prayer], the book refers us to Matthew 18:3. Our prayer life should be without pretense or masks, acknowledging how life is messy and how children behave - impulsively, selfishly, unable to stay focused, etc. We are encouraged to pray exactly where we are - authentically - even in the midst of how messy and chaotic our hearts and lives may feel. Whatever you are feeling - bring that to God - be real. In chapter 4, Learning to Talk with Your Father, the book encourages us to ask persistently like a child (are we there yet?) and to believe like a child. We are pointed to Luke 7:1-10 where a centurion seeks out Jesus to heal his servant and says to Jesus that all He needs to do is say it will happen and it will and Jesus commends the centurion for his faith. As adults we become more cynical about others' commitments - we need to return to child-like faith and this will animate our prayer life. As the chapter continues, we encouraged to see how we are to avoid focusing our prayer life as an exercise of smooth and eloquent speech when scripture shares how often it is not - see Ephesians 1 and 3 and Paul's prayer there is halting and scattered. Chapter 4 winds down by emphasizing how we must understand that we have the Holy Spirit to guide us in our prayers - see Galatians 4:6.
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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that gives me the Holy Spirit and I can never be separated from Your love. Thank You that I can always come to You in prayer. Guide me in prayer and give me more of a heart in prayer to bring whatever is in my heart to You. I know You will take me however messy I am. I am undeserving of such love. 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. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to 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 and help them choose You as their Lord and Savior. 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.
