Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. – Luke 5:16

Two weeks and counting until Christmas! Are you ready?

Are all the decorations up and the presents wrapped? Have you mailed out your cards and planned all the meals? If so, good for you. If you’re like me, your “To Do” list is still super long and you need every one of the 312 hours left before Christmas Day arrives.

I begin every Christmas season hoping to be more organized and better planned than the last one. But it never happens, and I repeat the same pattern of busyness and last minute shopping, cooking, and cleaning. This year to make matters worse, I’ve been battling a virus that’s drained my energy level to barely above 1%. Laying on the couch for days, I had a lot of time to talk to God.

When you’re alone with God, what do you talk to Him about? Do you have a long list of people or things you bring to Him in prayer? Do you share your hopes and dreams? Do you map out the plans you want Him to bless? Do you confess your mistakes and cry out for help? Or do you lean in and listen to His still small voice?

Jesus often went away to be alone with His Father (Luke 5:16). When His disciples asked Him how to pray, Jesus gave them what we call the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one. – Matthew 6:9-13

I find it fascinating how Jesus taught us to ask for our “bread” daily. Not weekly, monthly, or annually. So often my prayers are about the future, my hopes and dreams that will only come to pass if God makes a way. But we learn from Jesus that today is important to God. How can we be present today in God’s presence?

We can follow how Jesus taught us to pray.

- Jesus started by lifting up God’s name. What are your most precious names of God? Father, Provider, Protector, Redeemer, or LORD? Call on the name you need most today.

- Then Jesus bowed to God’s authority in heaven and on earth. He agreed with God’s will and prayed for it to happen.

- Next Jesus asked for the provisions He needed today. He knew who was the giver of all good things.

-Then Jesus asked for forgiveness and the strength to forgive others. The sinless son of God reminded us to confess our sins daily and forgive because we’ve been forgiven.

-Lastly, Jesus ends His prayer with submission to God’s leading. His feet would follow wherever God would call. And there in the shadows of God’s presence, he’d be protected from the devil’s schemes.

Although the Lord’s Prayer is packed with truths about God, there is a lot of room for personalizing it. Prayer is as unique as you are. As God’s child, He wants to hear your truthful thoughts and feelings often. I’ll say it again, OFTEN.

During this busy season of Christmas, how can you talk to God in your unique way honestly and often? He’s listening around the clock for you to pray anytime, anywhere, about anything. There’s no “right way,” just pray.

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

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