Your Daily Devotion for April 23, 2009

Prayer Requests

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

 

Matthew 6:11

 

 

Depending on God for our daily supply keeps our trust in the Lord.

 

A missionary to Zaire once told the following story. “A mother at our mission station died after giving birth to a premature baby. We tried to improvise an incubator to keep the infant alive, but the only hot water bottle we had was beyond repair. So we asked the children to pray for the baby and for her sister. One of the girls responded, ‘Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be too late because by then the baby will be dead. And dear Lord, send a doll for the sister so she won't feel so lonely.’ 

 

That afternoon a large package arrived from England. The children watched eagerly as we opened it. Much to their surprise, under some clothing was a hot water bottle! Immediately the girl who had prayed so earnestly started to dig deeper, exclaiming, ‘If God sent that, I'm sure He also sent a doll!’ And she was right! The heavenly Father knew in advance of that child's sincere requests, and five months earlier He had led a ladies' group to include both of those specific articles.”

 

During His earthly ministry God took time to show His disciples how to pray. In Matthew 6, He gives us an example of a “model prayer” or a guideline for how we ought to pray. First, He tells us to reverence and respect His name. Second, He tells us to pray for His will to be done. Now, as we see in our verse, the Lord tells us to approach Him with our request.

 

We all have daily requests. Whether we need strength to get through the day, patience to deal with someone, physical provisions, or spiritual protection; we all need God’s help to make it through each day. God knows we have needs and has provided to meet them as He says in Psalm 37:4, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” God promises that as we are faithfully following Him, He will provide for us.

 

Let’s take each word of our verse today and see what it means. The word give means “to grant.” It asks God to grant our wish, desire, or prayer. The word us means “to us, not to me only, but to others in common with me.” The requests we take to God can be requests from those we love and know. Also, the words this day speaks of daily renewing the desire of our hearts toward God. It may take daily persistence in prayer before God answers our requests. Next, the words our daily bread represent all the needs and requests we have in life. Whether spiritual, physical, or emotional, God desires to hear our petitions and pleas daily.

 

E. M. Bounds once said, “What the church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations, or more novel methods; but men whom the Holy Spirit can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.” Prayer makes the difference between a mediocre Christian and a Christian God will use. And God desires that during our time of prayer, we openly lay before Him our petitions and the petitions of others.

 

For what do you pray? Do you have a list of requests you bring before God each day? Christ shows that He desires to hear your requests. He wants you to daily depend on Him for your spiritual and physical sustenance. Take time now to seek God in prayer. Open your heart before Him and let Him know you are completely dependent upon Him today. Depending on God for our daily supply keeps our trust in the Lord.

 

 

To find out more about Pastor Paul Chappell visit his blog or follow him on twitter.

 

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

2 Samuel 16-18 • Luke 17:20-37

 

 

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