I am a firm believer that we all have so much to be thankful for every single day. Part of recognizing this is the daily practice of coming into God’s presence with gratitude in our hearts. Once you start saying thank You to God, you may find that your prayers grow longer. If you’re unconvinced, try praying with a child. Jesus instructs us to come to Him as a little child, and often I’ve learned what this looks like by watching my own children and others I’ve had the privilege of discipling.
First and foremost, we teach prayer by modeling. If my children don’t see me thanking God before meals and asking His blessing on my food, how will they know this is important? When I talk to God aloud throughout my day, those closest to me hear not only the words I pray but also that I am in constant conversation with God. When my children and now my grandchildren see that I end my day with prayers, often praying together with each one, then the importance of prayer becomes obvious.
Beyond setting the example, I include them in my prayers. They hear me praying aloud for them, their families, and the things that are happening that concern them. I’ve also always made it a habit to offer them the opportunity to talk to God with me. I’m remembering this process from nearly three decades ago as I now have the chance to pray with my grandson. He’s come a long way from simply saying amen at the end of my prayers to voicing his own thoughts aloud. Does he understand who he’s speaking to and why? Probably more than even I realize! Is his understanding growing with every conversation? Absolutely!
Our prayers tonight went a little something like this: “Dear Jesus, thank You for the ice cream. It was so yummy. Dear Jesus, Thank You that I talked to daddy on the phone.” (His dad was away for a few days for work.) His list usually includes thanks for the day at the zoo, (even if it was a month ago) and the food, and then he’ll get distracted by a thought and remember it out loud with me. When he pauses, I ask, “Who else?” This way I’m sure he’s finished with his prayer before I begin mine. I think too often we overcomplicate things like prayer by trying to make something sacred of it when it’s really just an ongoing conversation, one that is modeled and learned, one that can grow over time, but remains meaningless without faith.
“And it is impossible to please God without faith.
Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.11.6.NLT
People followed Jesus, listening to His teaching and watching for His miracles. They saw him heal lepers, the lame, the blind, even raise the dead. Jesus fed five thousand and still the people asked for a sign. Prove to us that you are who you claim to be. Moses gave our ancestors manna in the wilderness. What can you do?
“Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did.
And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.
Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died.
Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.”
John 6:32-35, 41-42, 47-52 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.6.32-52.NLT
Jesus often went away to lonely places to pray. On occasion He took a few of His disciples with Him, often enough it would seem to make them curious to know more about the Source of His power. What was going on in these hours alone with His Father? When they asked Him, “teach us to pray,” Jesus gave them a model prayer. We know it as the Lord’s Prayer. You probably learned it as a child like me and can repeat it without thought.
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:9-13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.9-13.NLT
Most would agree that this is not a difficult teaching. God is Holy and His will should be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. We take no issue as long as we’re talking about literal food. But John first introduced Jesus as the Word. When He was tempted, Jesus answered, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.” Now Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life.” No wonder He grows frustrated with the lack of faith, even among His followers!
“Jesus’ disciples heard this. Many of them said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining about his teaching.
So he said to them, “Does this upset you? Then what if you see the Son of Man go up to where he was before?
The Holy Spirit gives life. The body means nothing at all.
The words I have spoken to you are full of the Spirit. They give life. But there are some of you who do not believe.”
Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe. And he had known who was going to hand him over to his enemies.
So he continued speaking. He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father helps them.”
From this time on, many of his disciples turned back. They no longer followed him.
“You don’t want to leave also, do you?” Jesus asked the 12 disciples.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, who can we go to? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.””
John 6:60-69 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/jhn.6.60-69.NIRV
“But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live.
And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.”
1 Corinthians 8:6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.8.6.NLT
And we have the privilege of open conversation with Him because He made a Way. One Way. The Way, The Truth, The Life. His name is Jesus.
“Everyone will one day acknowledge that God is right—whether in the reverent submission of faith, or in the terror that cries for the rocks and the mountains to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6).”
Read the Bible: Exodus 1, Luke 4, Job 18, 1 Corinthians 5
Acknowledge Him as Lord today. It’s a simple matter of trust. You have His Word, the Bible, the testimony of His Son, Jesus, and the witness of His Spirit. Talk to Him. Start a conversation today.
““Look! I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
Revelation 3:20 NLT
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