CCOB Devotional

November 2005
Teach us to Pray, (Part Two)
Depending on God
Last month we considered the first part of The Lord's Prayer in Luke 11:2. In it we discovered that the most important aspect of our prayer life is the relationship that we have with God. He is our Father in Heaven! From this model prayer we learn:
  • The purpose of prayer -- communion with God.
  • The focus of prayer -- worshipping Him.
  • The goal of prayer -- making His desires our desires.
  • The attitude of prayer -- submitting our will to His.
As we continue to look at Jesus' model for prayer in Luke 11:3-4, we will notice how the emphasis now shifts from worship to petition. These next two verses sum up the three basic needs in our lives:

PHYSICAL
Our daily sustenance

EMOTIONAL
Forgiveness of sin

SPIRITUAL
Deliverance from evil

Give us day by day our daily bread
God meets our physical needs

The Lord instructs us to pray for each day's strength. When we pray this way, we are acknowledging the fact that our Father in Heaven is the one who sustains us and provides for us. The question is, "Do we really believe this?" Or have we fallen under the misconception that we are able to provide for ourselves?

What best describes your Christianity? Is your walk with the Lord like an automobile-you fill the tank and then you're on your own until it runs dry? Or, are you more like a streetcar that stays connected to the electricity at all times?


Too many of us are like those automobiles. In this pattern for prayer Jesus is teaching us to remember to stay connected to the source of our power. We need to be filled with and yielded to the Holy Spirit every day. Remember, even if all doors close, God is able to supply our needs!

Forgive us our sins
God meets our emotional needs

As we linger in the Father's presence and begin to rely on Him for our daily strength, we will develop an increasing awareness of the sin in our lives and the resource available to deal with the guilt that we experience as a result.
  • The greatest emotional need that we have is for forgiveness.
  • The greatest spiritual blessing that we receive is the forgiveness of our sins.
  • The greatest proof that we are forgiven is that we willingly forgive others.
Deliver us from the evil one
God meets our spiritual needs

Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
- (Luke 11:3-4)
Let's be honest, many times we pray and ask God to keep us from temptation, but then, by our own choice we walk right into it! Why is that? Although we are born again, the world, the flesh, and the devil remain our perennial enemies. That is why Jesus instructs us to pray that God would deliver us from evil and He will, but we need to do our part too by being willing to:

  • Put aside those things that cause us to stumble.
  • Submit to God's ways.

The Bible says:
Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
- James 1:14-15

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
- Ephesians 6:10-11

The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the Day of Judgment.
- 2 Peter 2:9

Lord, teach us to pray...

In Him,



    The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer


Nobody has written as extensively or as convincingly on the essence of our communication with our heavenly Father than this 19th-century pastor. Experience the impact of God's power in your life with Bounds' guide to prayer. This modern classic includes an exploration of the essentials, necessity, possibilities, purpose, reality, and weapons of prayer.


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