Prayer isn't lining up our requests with God's will, but more confirming His will in our life. In Matthew 6;7 it says "And when you pray do not keep on babbling like pagans for they think they will be heard because of there many words, do not be like them for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."
This is how Jesus taught us to pray; the Lord's prayer was given to us as an example, not to be repeated in parrot fashion. So when we do say the Lord's prayer maybe we could follow these guide lines.
So let's take this first line and consider it. Here Jesus is asking us to recognise the name of our Father and to hounor His name. So it is important to consider some of the many names God has and how we can apply them to God. Here are just a few of those names.
Saviour...Redeemer...Almighty...Provider....Teacher...Counsellor.
So now we know how to approach God in prayer, with humilty, awe and wonder.
This is asking God what He already wants and knows. So let's consider how God's will can be done on earth as in heaven. For example is it God's will that children should be aborted? Is it God's will that euthanasia should be implemented? Is it God's will that people should be addicted to drugs? This is just to name a few. So perhaps every time we pray we should pray for a particular instance like one of these mentioned, whether it be local or globel.
Bread in the Old Testament is what the Jews requested of God, so he gave them manna to sustain them, so in relation to-today for our daily bread we need money to buy food or a reliable job. It is not just a case of asking for a loaf of bread! After all God knows what you need before you ask him.-Matthew 6;8
We should also request our daily spiritual bread with equel necessity. For just as ordinary bread nourishes our body, spiritual bread nourishes our soul.
In Matthew 4;4 Jesus said "Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
So in this request we are asking God to feed our soul as well as our body. This could be done by reading our bible or some other Christian book's or meeting with other Christians in worship and other acttivites.
In this part of our prayer we should consider all of our sins. Sins of thought, sins of words, sins of deeds, just to mention a few. We should repent of them turn away fron them and resolve not to commit them again. In the same way we should consider whether we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Do we hold any grudges? Are we still angry, bitter, jealous or anything else? If so, we should not go to bed before resolving this, as instructed in Matthew 5;23-24
"Therefore if you are offering your gift at the alter and ther remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift."
Here we are asking for God's protection, and we could consider all the possible temptations we may face throughout the day. We need to be vigilant against these temptations, while not letting our guard down in other areas, even those we consider ourselves to be strong against the enemy. An ungurded defence is after all often prone to a suprise attack.
In this final verse we are acknowledging that God is almighty, and His will central and far superior to our own. After all Amen means so be it, or YOUR WILL BE DONE. So in conclusion, when we bring our requests before God, when following Jesus instruction we could easily take all day saying the Lord's prayer.
On a final note remember, when you say Amen you are asking for God's will to be done. So unless our requests are in line with God's will they won't necessarily happen. So don't get disappointed if, for example, a person you pray to be healed is not, because it is all in God's timing, and not ours.
This is how Jesus taught us to pray; the Lord's prayer was given to us as an example, not to be repeated in parrot fashion. So when we do say the Lord's prayer maybe we could follow these guide lines.
Verse one; "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be YOUR name".
So let's take this first line and consider it. Here Jesus is asking us to recognise the name of our Father and to hounor His name. So it is important to consider some of the many names God has and how we can apply them to God. Here are just a few of those names.
Saviour...Redeemer...Almighty...Provider....Teacher...Counsellor.
So now we know how to approach God in prayer, with humilty, awe and wonder.
Verse two; "YOUR Kingdom come, YOUR will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
This is asking God what He already wants and knows. So let's consider how God's will can be done on earth as in heaven. For example is it God's will that children should be aborted? Is it God's will that euthanasia should be implemented? Is it God's will that people should be addicted to drugs? This is just to name a few. So perhaps every time we pray we should pray for a particular instance like one of these mentioned, whether it be local or globel.
Verse three; Give us today our daily bread.
Bread in the Old Testament is what the Jews requested of God, so he gave them manna to sustain them, so in relation to-today for our daily bread we need money to buy food or a reliable job. It is not just a case of asking for a loaf of bread! After all God knows what you need before you ask him.-Matthew 6;8
We should also request our daily spiritual bread with equel necessity. For just as ordinary bread nourishes our body, spiritual bread nourishes our soul.
In Matthew 4;4 Jesus said "Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
So in this request we are asking God to feed our soul as well as our body. This could be done by reading our bible or some other Christian book's or meeting with other Christians in worship and other acttivites.
Verse four; Forgive us our sins as we also have forgiven others.
In this part of our prayer we should consider all of our sins. Sins of thought, sins of words, sins of deeds, just to mention a few. We should repent of them turn away fron them and resolve not to commit them again. In the same way we should consider whether we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Do we hold any grudges? Are we still angry, bitter, jealous or anything else? If so, we should not go to bed before resolving this, as instructed in Matthew 5;23-24
"Therefore if you are offering your gift at the alter and ther remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift."
Verse five; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Here we are asking for God's protection, and we could consider all the possible temptations we may face throughout the day. We need to be vigilant against these temptations, while not letting our guard down in other areas, even those we consider ourselves to be strong against the enemy. An ungurded defence is after all often prone to a suprise attack.
Verse six; For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever AMEN.
In this final verse we are acknowledging that God is almighty, and His will central and far superior to our own. After all Amen means so be it, or YOUR WILL BE DONE. So in conclusion, when we bring our requests before God, when following Jesus instruction we could easily take all day saying the Lord's prayer.
On a final note remember, when you say Amen you are asking for God's will to be done. So unless our requests are in line with God's will they won't necessarily happen. So don't get disappointed if, for example, a person you pray to be healed is not, because it is all in God's timing, and not ours.
God bless you
Paul.
Paul.
God Bless
