Luke 11:1 “Would you teach us a model prayer that we can pray, just like John did for his disciples?”
Our father in heaven hallowed be your name- Lord, I want you to be the center of my life, the name I crave to hear.
Your kingdom come – Make your kingdom real to me now.
Your will be done- I can’t do this anymore, only you can.
On earth as it is in heaven- Change my world.
Give us today our daily bread- I need you to feed my mind, my soul, my body. I am hungry.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors- I know I need forgiveness, help me to believe you can give it, and then release forgiveness to those who have wronged me.
And lead us not into temptation – Open the good doors and shut the bad.
But deliver us from evil- Take away my darkness. Tear down what has a strong hold on me now.
( Matthew 6:9-13)
We have all felt, at some point, that we had no words to pray. How do you keep praying when nothing changes?
I was reminded this morning of a time when I prayed like I had never prayed before. A group of us were called upon to pray and fight a spiritual battle that would impact the lives of many. I will never forget feeling like it was a life or death battle. When all was said and done, we believed, we thanked God, and we waited. Years went by and I began to question what God was doing,
Or not doing.
Where are you God?
I just had to keep praying.
If you have a loved one in active addiction or recovery, how long has the road been? Ten years? Fifteen? Is it your life that needs prayer? When Jesus gave us an example of how to pray, He had already been praying. Jesus lived in constant prayer, constant communication with the Father. He knew we would have times when our own words were not enough. He knew we needed something we could use to guide us through those dark times.
Something to help us keep praying.
I am thinking of so many people that I have prayed for that are still struggling.I prayed for a marriage that was in trouble- they got a divorce. I prayed for someone to be set free from mental illness. Still waiting.
However, I prayed for my son for many years – he is doing well!
I prayed for a woman to be healed from back trouble- she is.
I have prayed for a baby to breathe freely- she is.
We just don’t know when God is going to move. Jesus never stopped praying. He continues to intercede for us before the throne of God. This is the lesson we need to learn. Don’t give up! God heard every prayer you pray, and will answer. When you have cried every tear you have and prayed every word in your heart, don’t stop.
Take this prayer and repeat it to the Lord. Change words to make it your own but never stop praying. Change the ” I” to “they ” and pray for your son of your daughter. Just keep praying, rather than searching for the answer. When He moves, He will be sure you see it!
What happened with the spiritual battle I fought? God has finally moved to answer. I can see how He is answering those very prayers, prayed five years ago. Amazing , beautiful things are being set in motion as a result of the prayers that we prayed years ago. Even more, because we never stopped praying.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
Forever and ever. Amen.
Families in Recovery Ministries 
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