In last Monday’s devotion, I told how the small “PRAY” signs have made me think more about prayer.  This week I dusted off my copy of Luther’s Small Catechism and read about prayer.  I felt this review might be worthwhile for others as well.

Prayer is an act of worship where we bring our petitions before God with our hearts and lips, and offer up praise and thanksgiving.  We pray to the true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  He alone is able and willing to hear and grant our prayers.  We pray because of God’s command and promise, in gratitude for blessings received, and for our own and our neighbors’ needs.  We pray in the name of Jesus with confidence (trust) that for Jesus’ sake, our prayers will be answered.

We should ask for everything that tends to the glory of God and to our own and our neighbors’ welfare- both spiritual and bodily blessings.  God does not promise to answer “Yes” to all our prayers but promises to give us what we need.  God does not give us all that we want or grant our foolish requests for hurtful things.  When we pray, we can trust that God knows what is best for us.  We need not tell God the time and manner in which God should help.  (Oh, do we do that?  Too often, probably.)

We should pray for ourselves and for all other people, even our enemies. (Surely not ISIS!  Yes, even them.) We should pray everywhere- alone, in the family circle, and in public worship, and at all times- even (and perhaps especially) in times of trouble.  Prayer changes things.  Sometimes, prayer changes us.  Read Psalm 19:4, Matthew 7:7-8, I Timothy 2:1 and Psalm 55:16-17.  Pray often and confidently, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Helen