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Pray
 Prayer is the way a
disciple enjoys an intimate relationship with God. Prayer can be private or public,
ritualized or conversational, silent or out loud, spoken or sung, words or action, simple
or profound. Through prayer God’s will is discerned and greater clarity is gained for
our journey. Prayer is powerful. Indeed, God’s creative, redeeming and healing power
is often directed through prayer. Jesus modeled the power and importance of prayer and
provides our inspiration to embrace a prayerful stance toward all moments of life. One of
the key ways Jesus showed his love for his Father was by regularly engaging in prayer.
Throughout the Gospels we read how Jesus “went up to a mountain to pray” or
“knelt down and prayed” or “continued all night in prayer.” As Jesus
prayed, he gained a clearer sense of who he was (his identity) and what he was to do (his
mission). Before he taught or healed, before choosing the Twelve or submitting his will to
the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed. Whatever the opportunity or
challenge, Jesus turned to his Father first and sought the guidance of God. Prayer is
Adoration (praise, honoring God), Confession (saying “I’m sorry,”
acknowledging sin, that “I can’t do it on my own”), Thanksgiving (saying
thanks, counting blessings, allowing God’s perspective to shape life) and
Supplication (asking for, praying for others, petitionary in character) - ACTS. The
Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s interpretation in the Small Catechism provide ample
instruction for the content and elements of prayer and a prayerful life.
Part of a disciple’s job description is to pray frequently.
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