Portrait of Prayer
In “A Portrait of Prayer,” Pastor Tom paints a vivid, down-to-earth explanation of what prayer truly means. Beginning with Luke 11, he reminds us that prayer starts with a proper view of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If we believe God is loving, powerful, and present, then our prayers become acts of both trust and intimacy. Through the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus models simplicity—addressing our basic needs, our need for forgiveness, and our desire to stay away from temptation.
The sermon challenges us to examine our attitudes toward others. Forgiveness isn’t optional—it’s foundational to true communion with God. If we ask God to forgive us while harboring resentment, we miss the point entirely. Pastor Tom calls out pride and grudges as barriers, not just between people but between us and God.
He further explores the parable of the midnight visitor, showing that persistent prayer matters—not because God is hard of hearing, but because bold faith is honoring to Him. When we ask, seek, and knock consistently, it deepens our relationship with God and strengthens our character.
Pastor Tom also warns us against treating God like a vending machine, asking only for what we want in the moment. Instead, prayer is a long-term relationship built on surrender. We don’t pray to control outcomes—we pray to trust God’s timing and perspective. He reminds us that the devil often attacks through our thoughts, sowing doubt and discouragement. But prayer shields the mind and heart, helping us focus on God's truth.
Finally, we’re called to keep going. When prayers seem unanswered, when time drags on, or when life gets hard, God is still listening. Even when we don’t know what to say, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. In the end, prayer is about relationship, trust, humility, and hope.
Luke 11:1–4
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.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
Luke 11:5–8
And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’
And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.”
Luke 11:9–10
“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Luke 11:11–13
“Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?
Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?
If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”
Hebrews 4:16
“Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”