(Post 8 of 10 posts about prayer.)
"[F]orgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." - Jesus teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:12
We've already established that we've offended God. If we're going to speak with Him at all, we need His forgiveness. We walk toward God in prayer like the prodigal son, having lived a life of self-worship and self-love, disregarding our Father. Because of this, we also need to be humble and forgiving toward others.
1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
4. Prayer is submissive.
5. Prayer is dependent.
6. Prayer is penitent.
(It's wierd that Reliant K's Forgiven is playing on Pandora as I type this post...)
Monday, March 22, 2010
Prayer: Dependent
(Post 7 of 10 posts about prayer.)
"Give us this day our daily bread." - Jesus teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:11
Food doesn't just appear in your refrigerator. Money to buy food doesn't just accumulate like morning dew in your bank account (or your parents' bank account). A job to earn money isn't a given. Skills and training to get a job don't come from nowhere. We are dependent upon God for all these things and more. We just don't always feel our dependence.
The next time you're hungry, imagine that you have no access to food. There are more than a billion hungry people who have no access to food today. They feel their dependence upon God.
We must never forget as we pray, that we depend on God for everything from our next meal to our next breath. We're also dependent upon God in escaping temptations (see verse 13).
1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
4. Prayer is submissive.
5. Prayer is dependent.
"Give us this day our daily bread." - Jesus teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:11
Food doesn't just appear in your refrigerator. Money to buy food doesn't just accumulate like morning dew in your bank account (or your parents' bank account). A job to earn money isn't a given. Skills and training to get a job don't come from nowhere. We are dependent upon God for all these things and more. We just don't always feel our dependence.
The next time you're hungry, imagine that you have no access to food. There are more than a billion hungry people who have no access to food today. They feel their dependence upon God.
We must never forget as we pray, that we depend on God for everything from our next meal to our next breath. We're also dependent upon God in escaping temptations (see verse 13).
1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
4. Prayer is submissive.
5. Prayer is dependent.
Prayer: Submissive
(Post 6 of 10 posts about prayer.)
"Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." - Jesus teaching how to pray in Matthew 6:10
Did you know that Jesus promised that we will always receive answers to our prayers if we pray rightly? The problem is that we're usually praying for our own will, ignoring His.
When you pray, imagine that you're standing before your Father, the King. You're pouring your heart out to your dad with love and respect, desiring His wisdom for your situation. Seeking His answer, which is best even if it's not what you thought you wanted.
For example, early in college I prayed for a girlfriend. God didn't give me one. Instead, He gave me two years of isolation with no friends whatsoever. During those two lonely years He drew me closer to Himself and prepared me to be a godly boyfriend. Then he blessed me with a godly girlfriend who is now my wife.
Pray to your Father, the King and submit to His will. Serve in His kingdom.
1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
4. Prayer is submissive.
"Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." - Jesus teaching how to pray in Matthew 6:10
Did you know that Jesus promised that we will always receive answers to our prayers if we pray rightly? The problem is that we're usually praying for our own will, ignoring His.
When you pray, imagine that you're standing before your Father, the King. You're pouring your heart out to your dad with love and respect, desiring His wisdom for your situation. Seeking His answer, which is best even if it's not what you thought you wanted.
For example, early in college I prayed for a girlfriend. God didn't give me one. Instead, He gave me two years of isolation with no friends whatsoever. During those two lonely years He drew me closer to Himself and prepared me to be a godly boyfriend. Then he blessed me with a godly girlfriend who is now my wife.
Pray to your Father, the King and submit to His will. Serve in His kingdom.
1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
4. Prayer is submissive.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Prayer: Reverent
(Post 5 of 10 posts about prayer.)
"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name..." - Jesus teaching how to pray in Matthew 6:9.
Prayer is talking with our Father, who happens to be the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. It's familiar, but reverent, like a good child is toward his or her earthly father.
When we come to God, we are to be aware of just who it is we're speaking with. In one place (Deuteronomy 33:26) He is described as riding upon the heavens in His majesty. I rode to work this morning in a Toyota Sienna. There's a glory gap there I think. We need to 'hallow' His name when we pray (set it apart as holy and worthy of awe and respect - don't just throw it around).
Here's your homework on this one: read Job 38-41. This will help you remember that you're talking to God when you pray.
1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
3. Prayer is reverent.
"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name..." - Jesus teaching how to pray in Matthew 6:9.
Prayer is talking with our Father, who happens to be the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. It's familiar, but reverent, like a good child is toward his or her earthly father.
When we come to God, we are to be aware of just who it is we're speaking with. In one place (Deuteronomy 33:26) He is described as riding upon the heavens in His majesty. I rode to work this morning in a Toyota Sienna. There's a glory gap there I think. We need to 'hallow' His name when we pray (set it apart as holy and worthy of awe and respect - don't just throw it around).
Here's your homework on this one: read Job 38-41. This will help you remember that you're talking to God when you pray.
1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
3. Prayer is reverent.
Prayer: Meaningful
(Post 4 of 10 posts about prayer.)
"...[D]o not use meaningless repetition..." - Jesus teaching how to pray in Matthew 6:7
It may look holy and spiritual when monks sit Indian style and moan mantras to God over and over again; but it's the equivalent of my son sitting and the breakfast table this morning saying "Oh yea!" 1.7 billion times. (He really did that this morning and I don't know why...) When you're talking with your earthly dad, you don't repeat meaningless stuff over and over again, do you? I hope not.
Our prayers are to be full of words and sentences and questions that have meaning to us. It's a conversation. It's so ironic that many of us repeat the Lord's Prayer so often when just before Jesus taught it He said "don't use meaningless repetition" when you talk to your Father. Instead, just like in other interactions you have, think what it is you want to communicate and use words to communicate it. Simple.
1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
"...[D]o not use meaningless repetition..." - Jesus teaching how to pray in Matthew 6:7
It may look holy and spiritual when monks sit Indian style and moan mantras to God over and over again; but it's the equivalent of my son sitting and the breakfast table this morning saying "Oh yea!" 1.7 billion times. (He really did that this morning and I don't know why...) When you're talking with your earthly dad, you don't repeat meaningless stuff over and over again, do you? I hope not.
Our prayers are to be full of words and sentences and questions that have meaning to us. It's a conversation. It's so ironic that many of us repeat the Lord's Prayer so often when just before Jesus taught it He said "don't use meaningless repetition" when you talk to your Father. Instead, just like in other interactions you have, think what it is you want to communicate and use words to communicate it. Simple.
1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
Prayer: Familiar
(Post 3 of 10 posts about prayer.)
"...[Y]our Father knows what you need before you ask Him." - Jesus teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:8.
When Jesus teaches Christians how to pray in Matthew 6:5-15, He refers to God as 'Father' six times (count 'em if you don't believe me). If you're a Christian, you are God's son or daughter. He is your Father. Speak with Him accordingly.
I don't want my kids to formalize their interactions with me. Nor do I want them to disrespect me. I don't want them to treat me like a school principle, a police officer, a vending machine, or their best friend. I want them to treat me like their dad. This is how Jesus teaches Christians to approach God as well. As the perfect Dad. Warm, wise, and worthy of respect.
1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
"...[Y]our Father knows what you need before you ask Him." - Jesus teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:8.
When Jesus teaches Christians how to pray in Matthew 6:5-15, He refers to God as 'Father' six times (count 'em if you don't believe me). If you're a Christian, you are God's son or daughter. He is your Father. Speak with Him accordingly.
I don't want my kids to formalize their interactions with me. Nor do I want them to disrespect me. I don't want them to treat me like a school principle, a police officer, a vending machine, or their best friend. I want them to treat me like their dad. This is how Jesus teaches Christians to approach God as well. As the perfect Dad. Warm, wise, and worthy of respect.
1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
Prayer: Secret
(Post 2 of 10 posts about prayer.)
"[W]hen you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret..." - Jesus, teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:5-6
Prayer is a conversation between you and God. The religious hypocrites of Jesus' day made prayer an occasion to show off their religiosity. Prayer isn't a contest. It doesn't matter who bows their head and closes their eyes the longest before digging into dinner. It's simply you talking to God. So don't stress if you're uncomfortable praying in public. Maybe we all should be.
Rather, sink into secret prayer in your room, car, McDonald's booth - wherever - and enjoy this private time between just you and God.
"[W]hen you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret..." - Jesus, teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:5-6
Prayer is a conversation between you and God. The religious hypocrites of Jesus' day made prayer an occasion to show off their religiosity. Prayer isn't a contest. It doesn't matter who bows their head and closes their eyes the longest before digging into dinner. It's simply you talking to God. So don't stress if you're uncomfortable praying in public. Maybe we all should be.
Rather, sink into secret prayer in your room, car, McDonald's booth - wherever - and enjoy this private time between just you and God.
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