Welcome to Week 7 of A 2020 Prayer Life!
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our prayer lives.
Be careful not to short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Take one day at a time.
Also be careful not to short-circuit the process by only reading. Spend time in prayer. And allow your prayer time to be guided by each day's reflections and instructions.
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our prayer lives.
Be careful not to short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Take one day at a time.
Also be careful not to short-circuit the process by only reading. Spend time in prayer. And allow your prayer time to be guided by each day's reflections and instructions.
February 12
As we read last week, the Apostle Paul declared the good news of our adoption, saying, "You have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15 NASB)
We know the word "Father," but the word "Abba" may seem foreign to us. It is foreign. It was the ancient Aramaic word for father. Indeed, it was the word that Jesus Himself used when He cried out to God in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Mark 14:36).
This, then, makes the point dramatically for us. We may address God the way that Jesus Himself addressed God!
Talk to Him about this truth.
Thank Him for His love by which He chose you and adopted you.
Thank Him for His love that invites you into such a close relationship with Him.
We know the word "Father," but the word "Abba" may seem foreign to us. It is foreign. It was the ancient Aramaic word for father. Indeed, it was the word that Jesus Himself used when He cried out to God in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Mark 14:36).
This, then, makes the point dramatically for us. We may address God the way that Jesus Himself addressed God!
Talk to Him about this truth.
Thank Him for His love by which He chose you and adopted you.
Thank Him for His love that invites you into such a close relationship with Him.
February 13
The Apostle John does not use the language of adoption as the Apostle Paul does, but he expresses the same remarkable gospel of God's love toward us. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us," he writes, "that we should be called children of God." (1 John 3:1 NIV)
Again, the point seems to be that we are not automatically God's children, but rather that He chooses in love to make us -- or in this case to call us -- His children.
Perhaps we have misunderstood an enormous part of the good news. Perhaps we have thought that the good news was merely that God forgives His children of their sins. Instead, the good news is that God has not only offered to forgive His sinful creatures, but He has chosen to elevate those sinful creatures to become His beloved children!
Previously, we meditated on God as our Maker. Now we exult in the truth that our Maker has become our Father!
Talk to Him about this transition and truth.
Meditate on the image of a Maker adopting what He has made.
Thank Him for that loving offer and opportunity.
Ask Him, in light of that love, how He wants you to approach Him, treat Him, and talk to Him.
Again, the point seems to be that we are not automatically God's children, but rather that He chooses in love to make us -- or in this case to call us -- His children.
Perhaps we have misunderstood an enormous part of the good news. Perhaps we have thought that the good news was merely that God forgives His children of their sins. Instead, the good news is that God has not only offered to forgive His sinful creatures, but He has chosen to elevate those sinful creatures to become His beloved children!
Previously, we meditated on God as our Maker. Now we exult in the truth that our Maker has become our Father!
Talk to Him about this transition and truth.
Meditate on the image of a Maker adopting what He has made.
Thank Him for that loving offer and opportunity.
Ask Him, in light of that love, how He wants you to approach Him, treat Him, and talk to Him.
February 14
Perhaps the most familiar passage in all of Scripture is the teaching that we know as "The Lord's Prayer." The risk, as with all familiar things, is that we know the prayer so well that we don't think about it very carefully. And so we may not recognize what profound things we are saying.
In order to appreciate the Lord's Prayer more deeply, consider for a moment this promise that Jesus made this promise to His disciples: 'Truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19 NIV)
The assumption, of course, was that the disciples were praying to the Lord God. But Jesus specifically identified the Lord God as His Father. It is a reference the He makes many times (e.g., Matthew 7:21, 10:32, 25:34; Luke 2:49, 10:22, 24:49; as well as over a dozen times in John).
In light of that, then, perhaps we can see how remarkable the beginning of the familiar Lord's Prayer is. When Jesus taught His followers how to pray, He said, "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father...'" (Matthew 6:9 NIV)
The very titles that we use for the prayer that follows are revealing. Many Christians call it "The Lord's Prayer," reflecting the fact that it is the prayer Jesus Himself taught. Meanwhile, many other Christians call it the "Our Father," highlighting how the prayer begins. So it is that Jesus' prayer teaches us to call His Father our Father.
Indeed, in His introduction to this model prayer, Jesus says, "When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:7-8 NIV)
"Your Father knows," He says. And so we discover the gospel in pronouns: "My Father," "your Father," and "our Father." Jesus has invited us into the family.
Talk to your Father about these truths.
Father, what does it mean for me to be able to address you as Jesus does?
Father, what is the sort of peace and confidence that you want me to have when I pray because of the assurance that "your Father knows"?
In order to appreciate the Lord's Prayer more deeply, consider for a moment this promise that Jesus made this promise to His disciples: 'Truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19 NIV)
The assumption, of course, was that the disciples were praying to the Lord God. But Jesus specifically identified the Lord God as His Father. It is a reference the He makes many times (e.g., Matthew 7:21, 10:32, 25:34; Luke 2:49, 10:22, 24:49; as well as over a dozen times in John).
In light of that, then, perhaps we can see how remarkable the beginning of the familiar Lord's Prayer is. When Jesus taught His followers how to pray, He said, "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father...'" (Matthew 6:9 NIV)
The very titles that we use for the prayer that follows are revealing. Many Christians call it "The Lord's Prayer," reflecting the fact that it is the prayer Jesus Himself taught. Meanwhile, many other Christians call it the "Our Father," highlighting how the prayer begins. So it is that Jesus' prayer teaches us to call His Father our Father.
Indeed, in His introduction to this model prayer, Jesus says, "When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:7-8 NIV)
"Your Father knows," He says. And so we discover the gospel in pronouns: "My Father," "your Father," and "our Father." Jesus has invited us into the family.
Talk to your Father about these truths.
Father, what does it mean for me to be able to address you as Jesus does?
Father, what is the sort of peace and confidence that you want me to have when I pray because of the assurance that "your Father knows"?
February 15
All of our praying should be informed by the truth that we are praying to "our Father."
Accordingly, during your prayer time today, immerse The Lord's Prayer itself in that title for God. Below you will find the text of the first half of The Lord's Prayer rewritten as individual prayers addressed to God as "Father." Thoughtfully pray through each of those phrases, recognizing that you are making these requests in the context of a Father-child relationship.
Father, I prayer that Your name be treated as holy.
Father, I pray that Your kingdom would come.
Father, I pray that Your will would be done here on earth just as it is in heaven.
Father, I pray that You would provide us with our daily bread.
Accordingly, during your prayer time today, immerse The Lord's Prayer itself in that title for God. Below you will find the text of the first half of The Lord's Prayer rewritten as individual prayers addressed to God as "Father." Thoughtfully pray through each of those phrases, recognizing that you are making these requests in the context of a Father-child relationship.
Father, I prayer that Your name be treated as holy.
Father, I pray that Your kingdom would come.
Father, I pray that Your will would be done here on earth just as it is in heaven.
Father, I pray that You would provide us with our daily bread.
February 16
All of our praying should be informed by the truth that we are praying to "our Father."
Accordingly, during your prayer time today, immerse The Lord's Prayer itself in that title for God. Below you will find the text of the second half of The Lord's Prayer rewritten as individual prayers addressed to God as "Father." Thoughtfully pray through each of those phrases, recognizing that you are making these requests in the context of a Father-child relationship.
Father, I pray that You would forgive my trespasses even as I forgive those who have trespassed against me.
Father, I pray that You would not lead me into temptation or testing.
Father, I pray that You would deliver me from evil
Father, I affirm that the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours forever!
Accordingly, during your prayer time today, immerse The Lord's Prayer itself in that title for God. Below you will find the text of the second half of The Lord's Prayer rewritten as individual prayers addressed to God as "Father." Thoughtfully pray through each of those phrases, recognizing that you are making these requests in the context of a Father-child relationship.
Father, I pray that You would forgive my trespasses even as I forgive those who have trespassed against me.
Father, I pray that You would not lead me into temptation or testing.
Father, I pray that You would deliver me from evil
Father, I affirm that the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours forever!
February 17
We have considered previously the Apostle Paul's declaration about our adoption: "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16 NASB)
Remarkably, however, being "children of God" is not the end of the matter. Paul continues on from there. He reasons that, "if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ." (Romans 8:17 NASB)
Perhaps you have experienced being an "heir" -- that is, the designated recipient of certain things because of the choice and will of another person.
Talk to the Father about the beauty of this truth in your relationship with Him.
Thank Him for choosing you in order to make you an heir according to His will.
Thank Him for the freewill generosity of His eagerness for you to receive certain things from Him.
Ask Him to help you see and understand all that He wants you to receive as a fellow heir with Christ.
Remarkably, however, being "children of God" is not the end of the matter. Paul continues on from there. He reasons that, "if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ." (Romans 8:17 NASB)
Perhaps you have experienced being an "heir" -- that is, the designated recipient of certain things because of the choice and will of another person.
Talk to the Father about the beauty of this truth in your relationship with Him.
Thank Him for choosing you in order to make you an heir according to His will.
Thank Him for the freewill generosity of His eagerness for you to receive certain things from Him.
Ask Him to help you see and understand all that He wants you to receive as a fellow heir with Christ.
February 18
As we come to the conclusion of Week 7, meditate on and pray through this full expression of the truths we have been considering as Paul explains it to the Galatians:
"But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." (Galatians 4:4-7 NASB)
Thank the Father about His wisdom in sending His Son in "the fulness of time."
Thank Him for His generosity and grace in sending His Son "that He might redeem" us.
Thank Him for 'receiving the adoption as sons.'
Thank Him for the witness of His Spirit within us that prompts us to call Him, "Abba! Father!"
Thank Him for the transition from slave to son.
Thank Him for the grace, the generosity, the privilege, and the abundance of being made an heir.
"But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." (Galatians 4:4-7 NASB)
Thank the Father about His wisdom in sending His Son in "the fulness of time."
Thank Him for His generosity and grace in sending His Son "that He might redeem" us.
Thank Him for 'receiving the adoption as sons.'
Thank Him for the witness of His Spirit within us that prompts us to call Him, "Abba! Father!"
Thank Him for the transition from slave to son.
Thank Him for the grace, the generosity, the privilege, and the abundance of being made an heir.