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Saturday, May 9, 2020

learning to pray

Opening Prayer:  Forgive me, O Lord, when my own preferences and opinions get in the way of what you long to accomplish in and through me.  Help me, by your strength and grace, to move from “my will be done” to “Thy will be done.”  Amen.

Scripture: Hebrews 5:7-10

Journal: What do the prayers of Jesus teach you about your own?  How have your learned obedience in your suffering lately?  How has this impacted the way you pray, or how you think about prayer?

Reflection: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.  Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” (Heb. 5:7-8)
     So Jesus prayed to the one who could save him from death and he was heard because of his reverent submission.  But the one who could save him from death, did not.  All because Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered.  
     Sometimes prayer is way bigger than just us and what we want; it is about what God is up to both in and through us.  It is about greater things than we can imagine.  It goes far beyond our own agendas and preferences.  And sometimes it is difficult for us to see that.  Sometimes, what for the life of us looks like something hard and painful and bad, can be used to accomplish things that are true and right and good.  Our limited perception just keeps us from being able to see their goodness.
     Thank you, O God, that you want more for us than we even want for ourselves.  Thank you that you can and will use the difficult content of this broken and painful life to accomplish your divine purposes in and through us.  We just need to trust in you.  Help us to not get so caught up in our own patterns and preferences that we miss what you are up to both within and around us.  Amen.

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Thank you, O God, that you want more for us than we even want for ourselves.  Thank you that you can and will use the difficult content of this broken and painful life to accomplish your divine purposes in and through us.  We just need to trust in you.  Help us to not get so caught up in our own patterns and preferences that we miss what you are up to both within and around us.  Amen.

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