"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our father in heaven, Hallowed be your name. You're kingdon come. Your will be done on arth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matthew 6: 9-13 NKJV
There in the contents of the sermon on the mount, amidst other teachings of our Lord Jesus, is what has been heralded as Jesus' teaching on how we should pray. I'm not one who thinks that our communication with God should follow any particular pattern, but that's just my thought. After all, did the prayers of the prophets follow a template similar to that of Matthew 6? Yet, this is what Jesus said of our prayers that day, "In this manner, therefore, pray." So, many a well intended christian followed this example. Now, I'm not saying the prayer example in Matthew 6 is wrong, far from it. I'm just not that much into cookie cutter organized prayers. My communication with the Father is on a personal level for me. Still, as in his sermon on the Mount of Olives, I believe that Jesus' teachings have validity. The way Jesus tells us to pray is unique covering our provision, debts and help against our enemy satan. All good points. Not to offend anyone, but I look at Jesus' prayer in Matthew 6 as a "beginers prayer." Not that someone mature in their faith couldn't pray in this way as well, but I believe it to be a example on how to pray. As I've said, I believe our personal prayers with God don't follow a pattern, but are heartfelt conversations between us and our heavenly father.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord: he is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1: 1-8 NKJV
If Jesus' prayer in Matthew 6 is a beginers example of how to pray, then his brother James' instruction on how to pray is more detailed. In James 1 we see the Lords' brother also instructing us on how we should go about our prayers. One thing I love about James' version is his instruction in verse 6. James tells the reader to "Let him ask in faith" when in prayer to our Lord. Obviously, there's something to be said of someone who truly believes in God as they pray.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
I think that Paul verifies this in Hebrews 6 when, again, he explains a element of effective prayer. Of course, the phrase "effective prayer" is pretty much a misnomer, as I've stated, to me prayer is simply my personal communication with my lord. Do I feel God will look away from the prayer of someone who didn't believe he existed? No, for this would close the door on anyone who seeks to come to know him and reserve communication with him for only those who believe. Do we have any evidence that the thief Jesus forgave while on the cross was a christian? Yet Jesus opened the doors of heaven to this sinner as well. No, the line of communication to God is available to everyone. We toil over phrases like effective prayer, when I feel all God wants to see is for everyone to come to the reaization that he is Lord and that he loved us enough to send his Son to pay the price for our very redemption. There is no template for a effective prayer to say "Thank you, Lord."
~Scott~
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