weak prayer
"Lord, teach us to pray." —Luke 11:1
One of the most important things Jesus wants to teach us about prayer is that we are often weak in prayer. "The Spirit too helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in speech" (Rm 8:26). We must know our weaknesses in prayer, when we're only giving God lip-service (Mt 15:8), when our hearts are far from the Lord.
When we recognize our weakness, we can get help by repenting of our sins, turning to the Spirit, and asking others to intercede for us. The Lord does not expect us to be self-sufficient in prayer. He accepts us in our weakness, but we don't accept ourselves. We should be honest with God and admit we're not praying as we ought. We should humbly ask others to intercede for us because we aren't praying for ourselves rightly (Jas 4:3).
Sometimes we should stop praying, leave our gift at the altar, and be reconciled (Mt 5:24). Honesty is the best policy in prayer. When we admit we need help, that's when we get help. When we admit our weakness, prayer power reaches perfection (2 Cor 12:9).
Prayer: "Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!" (Ps 130:1)
Promise: "Give us each day our daily bread." —Lk 11:3
Praise: Marcia, a busy, active homeschooling mom of eight, awakens at 5:30 AM daily to have quiet time to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him.
Reference: (Through reading the Bible every day, we will know our weaknesses in prayer. We have several tape series that may help you. Overview of the Bible is six audio tapes starting with AV 10A-1 or three video tapes starting with V-10A. 15-minute Bible Teaching - New Testament is 40 audio tapes starting with #700. An Introduction to each Book of the Bible is 32 audio tapes starting with AV 21-1 or 17 video tapes starting with V-21.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 6, 2006
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