July 17, 2008 Why Pray?
ODB RADIO: Listen Now <http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2008/07/17/devotion.aspx ##> | Download <http://rbcorg.httpsvc.vitalstreamcdn.com/rbcorg_vitalstream_com/odb/200 8/07/odb-07-17-08.mp3> READ: Luke 11:1-13 <http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?language=english&passage=Luke+11:1-13> When [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. -Matthew 14:23 As a journalist, I have spent time with famous people who make me feel very small. I rarely sleep well the night before and have to fight a case of nerves. I wonder what I would do if seated at a banquet next to, say, Albert Einstein or Mozart. Would I chitchat? Would I make a fool of myself? In prayer I am approaching the Creator of all that is-Someone who makes me feel immeasurably small. How can I do anything but fall silent in such presence? How can I believe that whatever I say matters to God? The Bible sometimes emphasizes the distance between humans and God and sometimes the closeness. Without question, though, Jesus Himself taught us to count on the closeness. In His own prayers He used the word Abba (Daddy), an informal address that Jews had not previously used in prayer. A new way of praying was born. Jesus understood better than anyone the vast difference between God and human beings. Yet He did not question the personal concern of God, who watches over sparrows and counts the hairs on our heads. He valued prayer enough to spend many hours at the task. If I had to answer the question "Why pray?" in one sentence, it would be, "Because Jesus did." - Philip Yancey <http://www.rbc.org/authorDetail.aspx?id=52924> For Further Study Many of us don't pray to God on His terms. Learn from our Lord's model for prayer by reading Jesus' Blueprint For Prayer on the Web at www.discoveryseries.org/hj891 If Jesus needed to pray, how can we do less? ________________________________ "This e-mail (including any attachments) is intended solely for the addressee and could contain information that is confidential; If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, disclosure, copying or dissemination of this e-mail and any attachment is strictly prohibited and you should immediately delete it. This message does not necessarily reflect the views of Bank Indonesia. Although this e-mail has been checked for computer viruses, Bank Indonesia accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus and any malicious code transmitted by this e-mail. Therefore, the recipient should check again for the risk of viruses, malicious codes, etc as a result of e-mail transmission through Internet" ________________________________ * “This e-mail (including any attachments) is intended solely for the addressee and could contain information that is confidential; If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, disclosure, copying or dissemination of this e-mail and any attachment is strictly prohibited and you should immediately delete it. This message does not necessarily reflect the views of Bank Indonesia. Although this e-mail has been checked for computer viruses, Bank Indonesia accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus and any malicious code transmitted by this e-mail. Therefore, the recipient should check again for the risk of viruses, malicious codes, etc as a result of e-mail transmission through Internet”
