Jesus Teaches Us About Prayer

This meditation is based on a passage for October 23, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Luke 11:1-13

Reflection and Question: When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He emphasized being both persistent and trusting in prayer. The Lukan version of the Lord’s Prayer is slightly different from tradition but the crucial meaning of the petition concerning sin is the same: “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.” This requires me to forgive any who have hurt or frustrated me and to renew that forgiveness every day. This discipline keeps me in the church. Following Jesus’ example, whom must you forgive every day?

Prayer: Great God, Whom Jesus called Father, “reveal who You are. Set the world right. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with You and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.” Amen.
(quotation from Eugene Peterson, The Message, p. 1879)