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Matthew 6:9-13 This is how you should pray,Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever Amen
The most important reason for praying is Christ's example and teaching. Whether we understand how prayer works or not, that should be enough to get us and keep us praying. But there are other reasons for praying if we need them.
When we pray, we are fulfilling the purpose of our creation, which is to know God. Jesus said in His prayer," Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."[John 17:3]
Prayer helps to make us more like Jesus. People who spend a lot of time in his company grow more like him. There is a different quality about the life of an individual or a church that makes prayer its highest priority.
Through prayer God releases his power in our lives and in the lives of others. We may not understand this, but it happens.
Looking at the prayer life of Jesus, we see that he prayed early in the morning, at the end of a busy day, when he was tired and busy [we usually give tiredness and busyness as an excuse for not praying!] when he was tempted, when he needed guidance, and when he was dying.
Ther are many different times for and forms of prayer, but it should always be in the Spirit and when possible, include a time of worship, stillness and quietness before God.
Prayer has one function and that is to answer, "Yes" when Christ knocks.
Do we answer "Yes" to God as consistenly as he answers our prayers?
In His Service
Doc
The most important reason for praying is Christ's example and teaching. Whether we understand how prayer works or not, that should be enough to get us and keep us praying. But there are other reasons for praying if we need them.
When we pray, we are fulfilling the purpose of our creation, which is to know God. Jesus said in His prayer," Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."[John 17:3]
Prayer helps to make us more like Jesus. People who spend a lot of time in his company grow more like him. There is a different quality about the life of an individual or a church that makes prayer its highest priority.
Through prayer God releases his power in our lives and in the lives of others. We may not understand this, but it happens.
Looking at the prayer life of Jesus, we see that he prayed early in the morning, at the end of a busy day, when he was tired and busy [we usually give tiredness and busyness as an excuse for not praying!] when he was tempted, when he needed guidance, and when he was dying.
Ther are many different times for and forms of prayer, but it should always be in the Spirit and when possible, include a time of worship, stillness and quietness before God.
Prayer has one function and that is to answer, "Yes" when Christ knocks.
Do we answer "Yes" to God as consistenly as he answers our prayers?
In His Service
Doc
