Welcome to day 6 of our 40 day challenge, and the first day to spend on the practice of Prayer!

(You can catch up on Day 1, Day 2 , Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5 if you missed them)

I always say this ministry is run on prayer, and I do not say that lightly. All we do, we do because of prayer. I’m passionate about prayer. My life and my work depend on it. It is an unbelievably wonderful privilege that we can call on the Creator of all and that He is always available to us.

But prayer can also be challenging. People often tell me that they wish they were better at praying. Many feel awkward or guilty in their prayer practices. They don’t think they pray enough and don’t have confidence in the whys and the hows of prayer.

And so, over the next five days, we’ll dive into the incredible privilege of prayer and grow together in it.

In Luke 11, we have the one recorded instance of the disciples asking Jesus to teach them something. Lord, teach us to pray.  They saw the prayer life of Jesus and wanted the same for themselves. Can you imagine being present to witness the prayer life of Jesus on earth? Because of Him, we have the ability to approach the throne in complete confidence. What an amazing blessing!

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

² He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“Father, may your name be kept holy.
    May your Kingdom come soon.
³ Give us each day the food we need,
⁴ and forgive us our sins,
    as we forgive those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation.” NLT

I’ve used the NLT here to make fresh verses that many of us know by heart. Often choosing a less familiar translation helps us see the verses anew.

Jack gave us an incredible teaching on this passage, and I encourage you to read it:

Lord, teach us to pray

Jack wrote this two years after we first came to Mexico. That period was one of great upheaval and great blessing. Battles and victories. We were separated from our family and friends, our church home—from our whole support network. We came to a land with an unfamiliar culture and language. Our lives became distinctly marked by before and after Mexico. Fully dependent on the Lord, our prayer lives became more urgent, but also more rich and fulfilling. The time we spend with the Lord is never wasted, and I believe the Holy Spirit grows us every moment we spend with Him.

Reflection for prayer and/or journaling:
Today, we read through the Lord’s prayer together, and, from Jack’s teaching linked above, we see that it makes a great launchpad for our prayers. As you read it again, ask the Holy Spirit to highlight any places to pause and focus on. Is your heart crying out in adoration for Him and His name? For His Kingdom to come, both in your life this very moment by His power and for the Kingdom yet to come? Are there areas of need He wants you to ask Him for? Is there anyone you need to forgive? Are there temptations you need help staying far away from?

Action steps:
Look through the rest of the week right now and choose one time of day every day to set aside for prayer. I prefer to get up early and spend time with the Lord when it’s still dark and before anyone else is awake. Some friends have their time of prayer in the evening because to the Lord, the day begins at sunset. The Lord will meet you any and every time you choose, so you can choose any time that works for you. But choose now, before distractions and interference get in the way. Depending on your season of life, you may be able to reserve 10-15 minutes, or you may have an hour or more to spend. The length of time isn’t important right now, it’s the commitment and setting the priority. Know that this will be opposed! Expect things to come up and interruptions to happen. Ask the Lord to protect the time, but also look for moments where the interruption is an opportunity to love, serve, or grow in patience or other fruit of the Spirit.

I’m so excited for you and all the Lord will do in your life because of this commitment!

♥ Samantha