Issue link: https://discover.cph.org/i/1289990
Lutheran Life 3 you sign up for the occasion? Well, we have 24/7 access to the Creator of the universe. Because of Jesus, our Fa- ther is always available to us. Through prayer—out loud or to ourselves—we can share our thoughts, words, emotions, and silence with God. He wants to hear it all: the good, the bad, and everything in between. If you still don't feel up to praying, perhaps a little motivation may help. The Second Commandment tells us to praise God's holy name and call upon it in every need. Luther goes so far as to say, "It is our duty and obligation to pray, if we would be Christians, just as it is our duty and obligation to obey our parents and the government. For by calling upon God's name and praying, His name is honored and used well." 1 Praying is part of our Christian life. Like all of God's commands for our life, praying is for our benefit. Luther goes on to say, "God also requires that you weep and ask for such needs and wants, not because He does not know about them [Matthew 6:8], but so that you may kindle your heart to stronger and greater desires and make wide and open your cloak to receive much [Psalm 10:17]." 2 There is nothing so overwhelming that it is beyond God's provision for you, nothing so egregious that it is beyond God's mercy for you, and nothing so mundane that it is beyond God's care for you. He listens. He acts. He responds! As you read these articles, my hope for you is that you might be encouraged to pray. More than just read about prayer, actually do it! Any time is a good time to pray—whether with others or by yourself. Don't let the opportunity pass you by. When you pray, you glorify the Father and will receive the blessings He has in store for you. w 1 Large Catechism III 8. 2 Large Catechism III 27. Don't know where to start praying but still have your Catechism? Start there, with Luther's teachings and the Holy Spirit guiding you. See how you can pray through the Small Catechism with John T. Pless. Find this title and more from this magazine at cph.org/llresources. PRAYING LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM