May 2013 Issue

Prayer in the New Testament

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Medieval Gothic cathedrals in Europe inspire us with their mysterious beauty. They also take us back in time and tell us about God’s people through the ages. When the 12th-century inhabitants of France came to Notre Dame or to the Chartres Cathedral, they learned about God. The cathedrals’ frescoes, paintings, and woodcarvings served as “medieval PowerPoint” of sorts—they told Bible stories to mostly illiterate congregations. And the exquisite play of lights and shadows, of colors and music presented heaven’s glory to people who lived in squalor and poverty.

We can learn something from the people who built these cathedrals—and not only from the works of art that are seen but also from things that are unseen. Modern optics and video technology have illuminated hidden areas in these architectural marvels, places previously invisible from below. Yet the medieval artists and craftsmen worked on these “invisible” areas with even more care and diligence than on the ones open to everybody’s view. They knew that God saw the work of their hands, and they did it for Him. It was the expression of their love for Him. It was their prayer.

As we study prayer in the New Testament, we’ll learn from believers who went before us. Through prayer, we can let the heavenly “optics” zoom in on the hidden areas of our lives and offer them to God. Through prayer, we can attain heavenly view of our lives here on earth. And this month, at Today in the Word our prayers are for you, our readers. Thank you!