Place me before you, O Lord

A number of years ago I read the book, Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster. There’s a few sentences that have been stuck in my mind ever since that time. Let me share them with you: Spiritual Disciplines are a way of sowing to the Spirit. The Disciplines are God’s way of getting us into the ground; they put us where he can work within us and transform us. By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done.

I want to share a scripture with you today. There’s a good chance that these verses are very familiar to you...but you know as well as I do, that familiar things are too often taken for granted.

Jesus was asked one time, “Lord, would you teach us to pray?” Now Jesus is the Master Teacher! Listen to His answer, “Yes, I will...pray like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

The problem with many folks is that they’ve allowed familiarity with this scripture to bury the request that it’s actually making. As you go back and reread these words (Matthew 6, Luke 11), notice the plea that should come from the heart of the one voicing the prayer.

Father may Your name be honored. Is His name being honored through your life?

Father may Your kingdom come soon. Are you anticipating all the things God has prepared for those who love Him?

Father may your will be done on earth, just as it is in heaven. Will you allow God to rule in your heart just as He rules in heaven?

Father may You give us what we need today. Do you realize that without God providing for you, you would cease to exist?

Father forgive us our sins. Sin is what separates us from God. Do you realize that you are only forgiven as much as you are willing to forgive others?

Father don’t let me yield to temptation. This is one of the greatest requests we can ever make. It lets the Father know that we want to be led to Him, not away from Him.

It’s time for us to stop taking God and His Word for granted, I want to challenge you to take time for the discipline of scripture reading and of prayer. It will put you in the place where God can bless you...right in His presence!