INTRODUCTION: (5 PARTS TO FOLLOW as comments)
In 2005, I was a contributor to the writing of Immanuel UMC's (Lakeside Park, KY) Lenten Prayer Guide. The following five "comments" under the post are five of the daily devotionals I wrote at that time. I know this is not the Lenten season; however, today would be my Dad's 90th birthday, and there are numerous family references in these "articles" - so, on a trip down memory lane about Dad today, I was inspired to reprint these here.
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Learning to Pray - Part 1
I don’t recall asking my parents, or anyone else for that matter, to teach me to pray. But I was taught just the same. I can remember as a child how our family gathered each night at the “family altar.” Sometimes, after scripture reading, we took turns praying, at other times we read a simple prayer that followed a devotional reading. My brother and I were encouraged to read the Bible and pray on our own as well, just as Jesus told the disciples to go into their closet to pray, just before teaching them the model prayer that we often call The Lord’s Prayer (see Matthew 6).
The wonders and intensity of prayer that the disciples learned firsthand from the Master are indescribable. In a similar way I learned from my parents’ example. I can only hope that I passed some of that on to my children; but I fear that I failed miserably. I do know that they have learned that God can be trusted and that He never fails them, even when others do fail.
After giving the disciples His model prayer, Jesus taught them more about His continuous provisions. Read the remainder of Matthew 6. He cares for the flowers and the birds, how much more does He care for us? His loving arms are there to protect us and hug us with His love. The psalmist knew about this: “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever” (Psalm 125:2, NASB). What a great promise that is! As you pray today, imagine God’s everlasting and loving arms embracing you.
Learning to Pray - Part 2
My natural father, E. Verrell Wofford, died in 1953 (a couple of months before my third birthday), but my mother told me of the powerful prayer life that he practiced constantly. She said he would not start the engine of the car until they held hands and prayed for God’s guidance. During a hurricane in Miami he prayed for God to protect them in the room they were in with a sick friend. When the winds subsided, they opened the door and the house was gone – but the room stood alone with all occupants safe. (This story was connected with a lesson about being specific when we pray.)
During the last months of his life, in a Birmingham hospital, the hospital staff often found him in other patient’s rooms praying with them about their own healing and salvation. Through prayer, he brought peace and comfort to many who knew no peace and comfort. Jesus promised us that he would send a comforter through the Holy Spirit. He promised peace, “not as the world gives”, but a “peace that passes all understanding.”
If we pray and know God in the daily routines, such as driving to work or school, then we will know His peace when the storms slam into this house of ours called “life.” Pray that God will show you opportunities to bring peace and comfort to others through prayer.
Learning to Pray - Part 3
Andre’ Louf says, “Nobody can learn how to see. For seeing is something we can do by nature. So too with prayer. Authentic prayer can never be learnt from someone else. It has its own instructor within it. Prayer is God’s gift to him who prays.”
In the earlier parts of this devotional thought (Parts 1 & 2) I spoke of the knowledge of the power and wonder of prayer gained from my parents. I learned historically from the stories of my father’s prayers. I learned experientially from my mother’s prayers, hearing her audibly pray for others in need, seeing her covenant with others to pray for specific concerns, and knowing how God provided for her in times of need.
Mother told me of a specific prayer that God answered while my father was in the hospital, just before his death. She owed a bill for a little over $90. She had not been able to work while daddy was so ill, and he was a poor Alabama preacher. So, she went to her “heavenly Father,” who was no stranger to either of them. She prayed something like this: “Father, you know that I need to pay this bill, but I don’t have the money to pay it. Father, I know that You have everything and that You can provide all our needs. Please provide for this need. Amen.” She went home, opened her mail and found a $95 money order with an anonymous note: “God told me you needed this”. God knows and provides for our needs even before we know of them.
Learning to Pray - Part 4
I had two wonderful dads and they both loved me. I’ve told you of the first; the second is the one that I grew up calling “daddy.” He chose to become my daddy. I’m offended when someone uses the term “step-child” negatively. When Mr. Norman became my daddy, I became his son. That endowed me with all that went with his name.
Daddy was not a man of worldly wealth, but a man with a wealth of wisdom. Daddy was not a man of large physical stature, but a man of large character. Daddy was not a man who held a highly recognized position, but a man who recognized his position to serve others because of his love for God and a desire to honor God’s name.
When my brother and I became his sons, he gave us his name. As we grew, we came to know more about what that meant. We learned what we could request and what we should never request. We knew “the look”, which meant we had pushed the limit, and the other “look”, when he swelled with pride. Daddy granted the good requests and denied the bad requests. He gave both answers, “yes” and “no”, because he loved us.
When we spend time with our Heavenly Father, we learn what He means by praying in His name. We learn what is His will and what is not His will. We learn what we need to do for His will to be done “on earth, as it is in Heaven.” Pray, asking in His name. Live, bringing glory to His name.
Learning to Pray - Part 5
I learned more about our Heavenly Father’s love in one day than I had known in my whole 24-year lifetime. It happened on December 1, 1974. I was known as “the Father” - you know, those awkward guys in the hospital waiting room who used to be clueless about the birthing process. (Things sure have changed.) I would hurry to the hospital, quickly stop to see that Becky was relatively OK and undisturbed, and then rush to the nursery window to see Amy, clearly the most beautiful child there. It happened again on April 27, 1978. God gave us our second daughter, Shannon, to refresh my memory of a new father’s love.
As a father of daughters, you know they could wrap me around their little fingers from an early age. I was little help in the discipline area. After all, why do perfect children need disciplined? However, I’m thankful that God gave Becky the ability to love and to see objectively the need for correction at the appropriate times. Of course, this unfairly made her the villain.
What did this teach me about our Heavenly Father? He watches over His children with loving eyes; listens with sensitive ears; and guards with protective arms. He hurts when they hurt. He is happy when they are happy. It really does hurt the Father when He has to spank His children.
Pray. Tell your Heavenly Father you love Him. Apologize for hurting Him. Consecrate your life to Him. Honor His name. Talk honestly to Him.
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