Thus, then, you be praying: 'Our Father Who art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, on earth also
Matthews Account 6: 9-10, Concordant New Testament
I don't have the number, but I would assume that prayer is something many people engage in on a daily basis. As Christians, we're told to pray without ceasing {1 Thessalonians 5:16}. To let our requests be made known to God {Paul to the Philippians 4:6}. But in going over my notes for writing this page, I was more concerned by what Jesus Himself said about prayer. What is it that Jesus wanted us to pray for, and how? Fortunately, Jesus gives us His example to follow in the book of Matthew. In what Christians have long celebrated as the Lords prayer, Jesus lays out His view on how we should pray. First and foremost, we're to acknowledge our Father in heaven {Matthews Account 6:9}. It is then that Jesus unloads what we should be focused on praying for. Not that new car. Not the job promotion. No, what Jesus encourages us to be praying for is that the will of His Father be done here on earth as it is in heaven {Matthews Account 6:10}. That's right, above all else, HIS will be done. Now, it may just be that the Lords will is to open the doors and provide someone with that car or better job, but we must understand that, above all else, it is the Father's will which will be done. Jesus doesn't stop there. He also instructs us to pray that HE be giving us our bread for this day {Matthews Account 6:11}. That He forgive us our debts, as we also forgive those who we are indebted to {Matthews Account 6:12}. Nowhere in Jesus' instructions on prayer do we take center stage. Our purpose is to ask for the Father that His will be done. This can be pretty difficult in a world that preaches the separation theology of the mainstream church. That it is our sin which gets in the way between ourselves and God. Nothing could be further from the truth. For we have died to our old sin nature nailed beside Jesus on the cross {Paul to the Romans 6:6}. It is Jesus Who has perished to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. Yet far too many Christians, including a friend of mine, continue in the belief that we are in a constant need to be in prayer for Gods forgiveness daily. Tell me, if Jesus has died to sin once for all time, what need to we have to keep seeking God's forgiveness? This is not the purpose of prayer that the Father intended.
And, dismissing the throngs, He ascended into the mountain privately to pray. Now, evening coming on, He was there alone
Matthews Account 14: 23, Concordant New Testament
We can learn another valuable lesson from Jesus in regards to our prayers. That being that our prayers are not simply a wish list for what we need God to do for us, but our own personal conversation with the Father. We have many examples in the scriptures of Jesus retreating to some private place to commune with the Father {Matthews Account 14:23}. In His example on prayer, Jesus speaks to our retreating to a private place for our own conversation with God {Matthews Account 6:6}. Obviously, Jesus was speaking from His own experience when He spoke to this. There is something personal and intimate when we retreat to a private place to fellowship with the Father in prayer. First, we often are free of the hassles of the outside world, which is what God desires. He wants our full attention. It is only when we are alone with Him that we can truly hear Him speak to our spirit. Some call it meditation, others simply call it as it is, being alone with God. Whatever you call it, it should be a treasured part of your day. I find that my most quiet times in the Lord are in the evening as I'm preparing to sleep. Others find their quiet time to be early in the morning. Perhaps this is why Jesus spoke to our finding that quiet place to pray, that no matter what time of day it is that we can always find time to open our hearts to God. We can also trust that no matter what time of day it is, He is always listening {First Epistle of John 5:14-15}.
~Scott~
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