Easter Saturday is between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. As such it is caught between the death and resurrection of Jesus. While we recognize the sacrifice of Jesus' crucifixion, we know that Jesus didn't remain dead. God raised him to life again. However, the disciples spent this Saturday in fear and despair. Jesus, who had held promises of hope, was dead and gone.
Sometimes, when it comes to our prayers, it can feel like God isn't listening. Perhaps we wonder if Jesus really cares. In those moments of darkness and despair, when our Hope seems dead and gone, we can remember that the story isn't finished yet. Out of the grave came life.
Sometimes, when it comes to our prayers, it can feel like God isn't listening. Perhaps we wonder if Jesus really cares. In those moments of darkness and despair, when our Hope seems dead and gone, we can remember that the story isn't finished yet. Out of the grave came life.
While we wait the joys of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, it is worth remembering where we started in this series. We wanted to learn how to better pursue our walk and relationship with God through the spiritual discipline of prayer. Where else to learn how to pray than from Jesus Himself. The Lord's Prayer affords us six powerful themes that serve as an all-encompassing pattern for our prayers.
Martin Luther has frequently featured in our devotions. He admitted to praying through the Lord's Prayer twice every day, but not simply as words to be repeated, rather, he used it as a guide for his prayers.
Perhaps we could finish with the same sentences from Luther that we read on day one.
Martin Luther has frequently featured in our devotions. He admitted to praying through the Lord's Prayer twice every day, but not simply as words to be repeated, rather, he used it as a guide for his prayers.
Perhaps we could finish with the same sentences from Luther that we read on day one.
“My intention is simply to stir up and instruct your heart so that you may know what thoughts to lay hold of in the Lord’s Prayer. …This is the way in which I am accustomed to use the Lord’s Prayer and to pray. To this day I am still suckling on the Lord’s Prayer like a child and am still eating and drinking of it like an old man without growing weary of it. I regard it as the best of prayers.… What a pity it is that such a prayer by such a Master should be babbled and gabbled so thoughtlessly throughout the world! Many people probably repeat the Lord’s Prayer several thousand times a year, and if they pray like this for a thousand years, they will not have tasted or prayed a single jot or tittle of it."
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
- How have you grown in your understanding and use of the Lord's Prayer?
- Is there a particular theme or phrase from Jesus' prayer that regularly catches your attention and becomes the focus of your prayer (it may often change from day to day)?
- Take a moment to praise God for the hope you have through Jesus and for all He has done and continues to do in your life.
You can find this excerpt from Luther's little booklet here.