Thurs.’s Devo - How to Pray

Read: Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26; Luke 10:38-11:13; Psalm 76:1-12; Proverbs 12:15-17 When the Israelites came to the land God had promised them they were to put a basket and set it before the altar of the Lord. They were to proclaim that they had been foreigners living in Egypt. They started as a few but God had increased their numbers until they were a great number. The Egyptians oppressed them and made them slaves but God saw their hardship and brought them out with his strong hand to this land flowing with milk and honey. They were then to present the first fruits of the good things the Lord had given them. *** Every third year they were to offer a special tithe of their crops to the Levites, foreigners, orphans and widows. Then they could ask God for his blessing. *** From that day on, God would require them to obey all the decrees and regulations wholeheartedly. If they did, God would set them above all the other nations of the world. They would receive praise, honor and renown and be a nation that was holy to the Lord. *** When they crossed over Jordan they were to take some large stones and cast them with plaster and write the words of God instructed them. They were to set these stones at Mt. Ebal. These were the curses they were to write: verses 15-26. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali were to stand on the mountain and respond to the Levites who would read the curses to all the people. *** In Luke, Martha is complaining to Jesus that Mary is not helping her since Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet listening to what he taught. Jesus told Martha that while she was upset over the details, there was really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary had discovered it and He wasn’t going to take it away from her. What a great reminder to us when we are bogged down with details - God’s presence is where we find rest. *** Jesus’ disciples saw how Jesus would go away and pray and asked him to teach them to pray. Jesus told them how they should pray and gave them what we call “the Lord’s Prayer”. He praised his father first and proclaimed his kingdom on the earth. Then he prayed for daily needs, for forgiveness and help in forgiving others. Lastly he told them to pray that they not yield to temptation. *** Jesus gave them a parable about how to pray for needs. The meaning of the parable was that they should keep praying until they received what they needed. God is the giver of good gifts and most of all wants to give us his Holy Spirit. *** Lord, we pray for more of your Holy Spirit. Thank you that we have access to You and your throne of grace. May we find rest at your throne.