Welcome to Week 39 of A 2020 Prayer Life!
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
September 23
If you surveyed the entire Bible for all the occasions when the word "teacher" is used as a salutation, you would find that the vast majority of occurrences involve Jesus. More than anyone, He is identified as "Teacher."
Leading up to the Last Supper, Jesus gave this instruction to some of His disciples: "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples."'" (Matthew 26:18 NASB)
"Teacher," in this passage, is self-referential. That is, Jesus is referring to Himself as "the Teacher." That title, then, was part of His own sense of His role and identity.
In your prayer time, call Him "Teacher," and talk with Him about the significance of Him referring to Himself by that title.
What does Your use of that title for Yourself tell me about You?
What does it tell me about my relationship with You?
Leading up to the Last Supper, Jesus gave this instruction to some of His disciples: "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples."'" (Matthew 26:18 NASB)
"Teacher," in this passage, is self-referential. That is, Jesus is referring to Himself as "the Teacher." That title, then, was part of His own sense of His role and identity.
In your prayer time, call Him "Teacher," and talk with Him about the significance of Him referring to Himself by that title.
What does Your use of that title for Yourself tell me about You?
What does it tell me about my relationship with You?
September 24
Luke tells us that "a certain ruler asked (Jesus), 'Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'" (Luke 18:18 NIV)
This individual was not one of Jesus' own disciples, yet still he addressed Jesus as "teacher." Furthermore, because he understood Jesus to be a teacher, he came to Jesus with a question -- a substantive question.
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about these questions:
This individual was not one of Jesus' own disciples, yet still he addressed Jesus as "teacher." Furthermore, because he understood Jesus to be a teacher, he came to Jesus with a question -- a substantive question.
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about these questions:
- What does it mean that You are still "teacher," whether being addressed by one of Your own disciples or not?
- Are people who are not Your disciples today still able to come to You with questions?
- In our everyday experience, teachers are still people that we think of as ones to whom we go with our questions. Is that meant to be part of my relationship with You?
September 25
"A certain ruler asked (Jesus), 'Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'" (Luke 18:18 NIV)
We noted yesterday that this "certain ruler" called Jesus "teacher" and came to Him with a question. We also noted that, still today, it is commonplace for people to go to teachers with their questions.
In your prayer time just now, call Him "Teacher," and bring your questions to Him. (Perhaps imagine that He were physically present on earth today as He was in the days of that episode from Luke 18. What would you seek Him out to ask Him?)
We noted yesterday that this "certain ruler" called Jesus "teacher" and came to Him with a question. We also noted that, still today, it is commonplace for people to go to teachers with their questions.
In your prayer time just now, call Him "Teacher," and bring your questions to Him. (Perhaps imagine that He were physically present on earth today as He was in the days of that episode from Luke 18. What would you seek Him out to ask Him?)
September 26
After Matthew responded to Jesus' call to follow Him, Jesus evidently shared a meal with Matthew and some of his tax collector colleagues. "When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?'" (Matthew 9:11 NIV)
Once again, we hear Jesus being referred to as "teacher," though this time by those who are antagonistic to Him. Most notable for our purposes just now is how the title is used to make a connection between Jesus and His disciples. They are being asked to explain and defend His actions, for He is "your teacher."
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about the implications of this episode.
Do I think of You as 'my teacher'?
Do the people around me know that You are 'my teacher'?
What would it look like for me to live each day with You as my teacher?
Once again, we hear Jesus being referred to as "teacher," though this time by those who are antagonistic to Him. Most notable for our purposes just now is how the title is used to make a connection between Jesus and His disciples. They are being asked to explain and defend His actions, for He is "your teacher."
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about the implications of this episode.
Do I think of You as 'my teacher'?
Do the people around me know that You are 'my teacher'?
What would it look like for me to live each day with You as my teacher?
September 27
Yesterday, we recalled that the Pharisees asked Jesus' disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Today, we want to turn again to the understanding that, for His disciples, Jesus is "your teacher."
In your prayer time, talk to the Lord about how He has been your teacher. Specifically, reflect on what He has taught you, and thank Him for each:
In your prayer time, talk to the Lord about how He has been your teacher. Specifically, reflect on what He has taught you, and thank Him for each:
- What He has taught you about Himself.
- What He has taught you about His word.
- What He has taught you about yourself.
September 28
We continue today to focus on what the Lord as our teacher has taught us.
In your prayer time, talk to the Lord about how He has been your teacher, and specifically give Him thanks for what He has taught you:
In your prayer time, talk to the Lord about how He has been your teacher, and specifically give Him thanks for what He has taught you:
- about love
- about grace
- about joy
- about peace
- about mercy
- about generosity
September 29
As we conclude Week 39, we want to continue to talk with the Lord about what He has taught us.
In your prayer time, remember -- and thank Him for -- what He has taught you:
In your prayer time, remember -- and thank Him for -- what He has taught you:
- about Him forgiving you
- about you forgiving others
- about suffering
- about trusting
- about obeying
- about the meaning and purpose of your life