Luke 11:1-13
The Lord's Prayer
11 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.' 2 He said to them, 'When you pray, say:
Father,* hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.*
3 Give us each day our daily bread.*
4 And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.'*
Daniel 6
7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions' den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered-in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
It is a joy to be here with you this morning. Some of you might not be aware that I have been a Lay Presbyterian Minister for over Fifty years, speaking in 3 states. I have never accepted an honorarium in all those years. I have always been asked why I do not accept money for my speaking engagements and I reply that when the service is over they do not have to ask each other "we did not pay for that did we?".
Some years ago when prayer was not prohibited at public events, all High School Football games began with a prayer from a local minister over the loud speaker system. I remember vividly one particular football game when before the start the announcer on the public address system said that the minister was not there and "that being the case, let us thank the Lord".
I was fortunate to be the eldest of eleven children where everyday at 6 PM we gathered in a circle in the living room of our house the youngest would read a few verses from the Bible.Then each of us prayed one by one with my father and mother closing the prayer circle. Prayer became an important part of my life.
Prayer was also important to Daniel who each morning as the new day began would go to his window that faced to the East and would pray to The Lord who gives the New Day. I have a window that faces the East and each morning, like Daniel, at the first rays of sunlight come dancing through my window, the first bird sings and I bow in awe and talk to my Lord.
My education began in a 3 room school house where each morning we would gather outside, salute the American Flag and return to the school house for a 15 minute devotional. Today unfortunately, God has been removed from our schools and it is against the Law to mention God. I was a Master Sergeant in the Marine Corps during World War II and was in the D-Day Invasion of Okinawa where prayer was a part of each new day. I have been asked to speak about the war in a number of schools and in every case I was admonished that I could not mention God, but I did anyway. It was my God and your God who brought us through the battle - and gave us victory. Despite the Supreme Court of the United States, We are One Nation Under God and we should thank him every day for our Freedom.
How sad it is to know of families where prayer is absent and where children grow up not knowing how to pray or the real interface with God that prayer brings about. I was a radio announcer for many years and one morning when I was on the air I saw a young man in the lobby with tears rolling down his cheeks. I asked him to come in the control room where he told me that his little 2 year old son had fallen in the fireplace and was badly burned. He said that he felt a need to pray but did not know how. I took him by the hand and we both dropped to our knees and I prayed with him for the recovery of his son from the burns. Several weeks later he returned to the radio station and told me that the doctors said his son was progressing. He said that God had answered our prayers.
The beginning of prayer is a right relationship with God; without that beginning we merely speak words and call them prayers. Recently a friend of mine gave me a a beautiful electrical lamp for my office which he had very carefully made for me. It is a thing of beauty but suppose when I plug it in to the electrical outlet and turn the switch there is no light. On the one hand I might conclude that all electric lamps are a fake. On the other hand it may be that I failed to connect it correctly to the source of power. The world for the most part is with electricity but until I connect my lamp to it, it will not burn. So it is with prayer. I may use the most beautiful words and phrases, but until I am connected with the great Source of power, my prayers are just meaningless words. Jesus said some people" think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name". Before you consider the results of prayer, get connected!
The Great American Evangelist Dr. Billy Graham who has conducted crusades over the entire world said "The Christian should have an appetite for prayer. He should want to pray. One does not have to force food upon a healthy child. Exercise, good circulation, health and labor demand food for sustenance. So it is with those who are spiritually healthy. They have an appetite for the Word of God, and for prayer. Sin breaks fellowship with God. A little girl committed a certain offence and when her mother discovered it she began to question her daughter. Immediately the child lost her smile and a cloud darkened her face as she said, "Mother, I don't feel like talking." So it is with us when our fellowship with God is broken by sin in our lives. We do not feel like talking to him. If you do not feel like praying, it is probably a good indication that you should start praying immediately."
Several years ago my mother who was 97 years of age was dying. Her mental faculties were as sharp as a young person as was her positive outlook on life. In my opinion she might have lived to be 100 years old had not she fallen and broken her pelvic bone with the resultant on going pain. She began praying to God to take her home. I told her that God had something else for her to do on earth before her ascension to the Kingdom of God. That very same afternoon the Easley , South Carolina Presbyterian Church sent some of their Young people to see my mother. They all huddled around her as she told them about life and about Jesus. The young people listened and gave their lives to The Lord, thanking my mother for speaking with them. As the evening passed my mother opened her eyes and in a weak voice said thank you Lord, and here is Jane ( a daughter that had passed away some years before). All of the pain had passed and she was at home with her Lord and those she loved that had passed on before.
A loving God has a plan for all, to bring others to him, as the old song says "bring the wandering ones to Jesus - our God is the great loving, giving, forgiving God who made us for Himself and we belong to him - what a wonderful time to hear our Lord say well done thou good and faithful servant, enter now into".
Some years ago I ran across an article that was authored by an unknown entitled "WHY? , On the street I saw a small girl cold and shivering in a thin dress, with little hope of a decent meal. I became angry and said to God: Why did you permit this? Why don't you do something about it? For awhile God said nothing. That night he replied, quite suddenly: I certainly did something about it. I made YOU". Perhaps that will permit me to close with a note "Thank you God for your Friendship and for all the doors in this life that you have opened for me, your Friend and believer, Otto"
H.Otto McDonald a member of Hodges Presbyterian Church, began broadcasting in 1952 his "Little Country Church," on the radio and whose devotions are on this web page. Otto has served as a Presbyterian Elder on three congregations and has been a Lay Minister for 52 years, and resides with his wife Betty Rose in Greenwood, SC.
The third Sunday of each month is "Can Sunday." Bring non-perishable goods which will be given to the Food Bank to help those families which are going through difficult times.
Soup labels are also collected to be given to Thornwell Home. If you wish,please mail soup labels to P.O. Box 99, Hodges, SC 29653.Thornwell School receives educational needs for donated soup labels and all are appreciated.