“Lord, teach us to pray.”
The men who urged Jesus to educate them about prayer weren’t immature or novices. Each of them had prayed—in penitence; for safety; for a good night’s catch—as part of a life story that led them to careers in fishing, tax collecting, and even political activism. But they had heard from Jesus—from time in close with Jesus—a whole new way of praying, one that began with an entirely new view of God. Gone was the angry, frowning deity of their imaginations, the God who was always disappointed with them. For they had heard their Master call this God His “Father”—even “Daddy.” The grace they found in Jesus opened up a whole new way to pray. And they were hungry to know more, learn more, pray more. Grace made them passionate about prayer. So it will be with us. When we discover what has always been true—that we are loved and held as closely as a parent holds us; that we were truly, eagerly embraced before we had a righteous thought—we unclench our bodies and our minds. Our prayer becomes an easy, reverent conversation warmed by love, and all our fears diminish. The Father who loved this world so much that He gave Jesus to us (John 3:16) rejoices when we trust Him, welcome Him, and tell Him everything. Grace leads us first to gratitude, and gratitude to prayer. So stay in grace. -Bill Knott
Note: If you are blessed by GraceNotes, we invite you to subscribe.
NO STRINGS ATTACHED (December 09, 2022)
GRACE THAT LIFTS (December 02, 2022)
GRACE AT THE GATES (November 25, 2022)
REDEEMING THE TIME (November 18, 2022)
GRATITUDE AND GRACE (November 11, 2022)
THREE CRUCIAL WORDS (November 04, 2022)
GRACE BEYOND FEAR (October 28, 2022)
THE GATE OF GRACE (October 21, 2022)
IN THE GRIP OF GRACE (October 14, 2022)
FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH (October 07, 2022)
GRACE WITHOUT DESPERATION (September 30, 2022)
A DAY TO REMEMBER (September 23, 2022)
THE LIFE THAT COULD BE YOURS (September 16, 2022)
GROWING IN GRACIOUSNESS (September 09, 2022)
WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT (September 02, 2022)
THE CHANGES YOU CAN’T SEE (August 26, 2022)
UNLIMITED (August 19, 2022)
JOURNEY TO JOY (August 12, 2022)
THE HIDDENNESS OF GRACE (August 05, 2022)
SLEEP LIKE A CHILD (July 29, 2022)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Devoted To Prayer
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
Conspirituality
Hey Spirit! with Theresa Caputo