chrisaltrock.com

Today is the 19th day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal.  During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.

Here is today’s prayer event:  20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matt. 26:20-29 ESV)

What a stunning contrast–Jesus reveals his betrayer but then blesses the bread and gives thanks for the cup!  Here is another example of Jesus blessing–in this case, giving thanks.  Jesus has every reason to complain, to groan, and to grieve.  Yet, he blesses the bread and gives thank for the cup.

Jesus was following the prescribed routine associated with the Passover Meal.  By custom, he was supposed to bless the bread and give thanks for the cup.  Yet this scene demonstrates how habits and traditions like “saying grace” or “saying the blessing” can be critical.  Especially in difficult times, the simple habit of still “thanking God for this meal” can be formative.

Do you “say grace” at every meal?  Why?  Why not?  How could you be more intentional about this practice so that it cultivates a more thankful spirit within you?  When you do “say grace,” what do you say?  What other words/phrases might make this habitual prayer more formative?

[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pepesanta/4367204563/]

Today is the 17th day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal.  During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.

Here is today’s prayer event:  33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”  38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:33-42 ESV).

Timothy Jones (“Praying Like the Jew, Jesus” (70)) points out that Jesus did not speak this prayer of thanksgiving after Lazarus has been raised from the dead.  Jesus speaks this prayer of thanksgiving while Lazarus is still decomposing in a tomb.  Jesus is not thanking God because he is certain God will raise Lazarus.  He thanks God simply because God hears him.  What did God hear?  Jones argues that God heard Jesus’ tears: “When [Jesus] found himself in the shadow of his friend’s tomb, he couldn’t put his prayers into words, so he put them into tears instead.  And his Father heard his cries.”  Jones concludes: “Perhaps it’s because at the heart of all our prayers, what we really want is not an answer but an assurance—an assurance that our Father is listening.”

Jesus thanks God simply because God hears.  Even in the midst of a painful time, Jesus believes that God hears.  And here, that’s all Jesus needs.

Is it enough for you to know that God hears?  Why?  Why not?  Take a few moments and just thank God for his open ears, for the way his door is always open, for how God is always willing to listen.

[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ggiupponitn/3358862103/]

Today is the 16th day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal.  During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.

Here is today’s prayer event:  17Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (John 11:17-22 ESV)

Jesus’ reputation as a person of powerful prayer precedes his arrival at Bethany.  Martha has witnessed enough of Jesus’ prayers or heard enough about Jesus’ prayers that she has no doubt–if this man prays for her brother to rise from the dead, then her brother will rise from the dead!  Martha has a prayer-request that tops all prayer-requests: rescue Lazarus from death.  And who does she bring the prayer request to?  She brings it to Jesus.

Are you known by others as a person of  powerful prayer?  If someone in your circle of influence had a unusually challenging prayer request, would they bring it to you?  Why?  Why not?

(NOTE: this series pauses on Sundays; spend this day reflecting on lessons learned during the previous six days).

SHARE WITH READERS BELOW A PERSON TO WHOM YOU HAVE BROUGHT CHALLENGING PRAYER REQUESTS AND WHY YOU ENTRUSTED THEM WITH SUCH REQUESTS.

[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cawilliams/3751306646/]