Week 1: CHRIST IN YOU
Day 3: Learning to Pray
TODAY'S READING:
Matthew 6:9-13
Some Christians are afraid to pray in a public place - perhaps you know some. Praying is really pretty simple, whether it is done in front of others or in private, because all you are doing is talking to the Lord -- sharing with Him your attitudes, fears, wants, frustrations, etc. He understands, He listens, and He answers.
Jesus' disciples asked Him how to pray, so He provided them and us with a model -- a roadmap for us to use when we pray. It is called the Lord's Prayer.
The Sunday school class of which I am a part has spent the last year studying prayer, and the last two weeks specifically on the Lord's Prayer.
Here are things to consider and how to make your prayer life more meaingful. I have used the New Living Translation, but I learned the Lord's Prayer from the King James Bible.
v.9 - "Our Father in heaven, may your name by kept holy." = we acknowledge and give praise to God
v. 10 - "May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." = we pray over our needs (not our wants) and bring them into line with God's.
v. 11 - "Give us today the food we need" = we remember that the same God we worship, the same God who is in control of our life, is the same God who wants to provide for our daily needs.
v. 12 - "And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us." = we ask God to forgive us when we do wrong as we likewise forgive another
v. 13 - "And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one." = we remember that the God who provides is the God who protects.
v 13b KJV: For Thines is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." We acknowledge God's eternal kingdom, His power, His glory. All to Him belongs.
The best way to learn how to pray is ... to pray!
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