A new nature

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Colossians 3:10 (NLT)

The start of a new year is always busy with resolutions, changed habits, and goals for the months to come. So it's a fitting time to consider our spiritual lives as well. If you know Jesus as your Savior, does your life reflect it? Paul tells the Colossian church in chapter 3 to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. He says it doesn't matter if we are Jew or Gentile, all that matters is Christ. Today, set a specific goal for 2012 to know your Creator through prayer and Bible study and to become more like him.


Dear God, please be on our hearts, minds, and lips each day. Help us to show others that Jesus Christ is all that matters. Thank you for your love and goodness toward us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Do you set spiritual resolutions each year? More often? Share them with us!

The wise men bring gifts

When [the wise men] saw the star, the were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11

The wise men realized the miracle they witnessed as they found the child Jesus. They didn't expect God to find them or to shower them with gifts. Instead, they brought gifts to him. Perhaps the most important was their worship. As we approach the start of another year, consider the gift you can offer God. Time together in prayer and in the Bible become gifts to you both!


Dear God, as the days pass and the time comes closer for Jesus to return, help us draw near to you. Teach us to pray and to hear your voice. Thank you for your love and the abundant blessing of a Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Do you have a New Year's Resolution? Leave a comment and let us pray for you!

Anna praises God

"[Anna] never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God." Luke 2:37, 38

The Bible tells us Anna was a widow and a prophet who lived to the age of eighty-four. She enjoyed a close relationship with God because of her time in fasting and prayer. As an older woman, Anna met the child Jesus. Her immediate reaction was praise! Then, "She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38). May we react with such enthusiasm and immediate need to share the miracle of Jesus with others.

Dear God, help us speak boldly to the ones who need rescue. Give us the words to share Jesus. May we also enjoy a close relationship with you through prayer. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Who do you know that needs rescue today? What words is God giving you to share Jesus with them?

Joseph's Obedience

"When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife... And Joseph named [the child] Jesus." Matthew 1:24, 25

The Bible does not talk about Joseph's prayer life, but we know he was a godly man. He followed the traditions and the law of the Lord, taking his family to Jerusalem each year for the Passover and training his sons in Scripture. He must have been unusually close to God to be chosen as the earthly father of God's only Son. We know he was obedient, regardless of the consequences. May we also be remembered for lives of service and obedience to God.

Dear God, please help us to be obedient. May we recognize your calling and strive to please you no matter the consequences. Thank you for the examples of other believers in your Word, and thank you for your Son. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Do you recognize God's calling on your life? What does it look like?

Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." Luke 1:38

When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit, Mary's first - and immediate - reaction was obedience. She didn't waver. She didn't ask questions beyond the first, "How can this happen? I am a virgin" (Luke 1:34). She didn't doubt.

When God visits us, whether by supernatural means or through His Spirit in prayer or reading the Bible, how do we react? Suspicion? Cynicism? Intellect? Do we show a humble and willing heart? May we, like Mary, confess that we are servants of the Most High God, blessed to participate in any plan He authors.

Dear God, please help us recognize You. We pray that our hearts would willingly accept Your divine plan. May we be obedient to Your calling on our lives. We bless You and praise You for using us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Has God placed a call on your life? How have you responded?

Give thanks for His strength

He remembered us in our weakness.
  His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies.
  His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:23, 24

We struggle against addictions, depression, discouragement, doubt, worldly desires, and physical enemies. But take heart! God is faithful to remember us in our weakness. When you feel the world pressing in, press into Him. In His strength, He saves us from our enemies. His love endures no matter what you're facing today.


Dear God, thank you for loving me no matter what I do. Thank you for saving me from my enemies. Your strength is awesome to behold and I am in awe of you. May I give the glory to you in every situation. In Jesus' name, Amen.


What is your prayer of thanksgiving? Leave a comment so we can give thanks for you too!

Through the wilderness

Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:16

Sometimes everyday life looks and feels like the wilderness. Cold, dark, and lonely places affect us no matter what we believe about God. The thanksgiving comes in knowing that we serve the almighty God of love. Like a tender parent, He touches His children in the frightening darkness and leads us through the hardship. As we see the light and feel His warmth, we grow closer to Him.


Dear God, thank you for your guidance and direction. Please take us by the hand and show us the light. May we reflect your love and glory in the darkness, too. In Jesus' name, Amen.

What darkness are you walking through? Leave a comment so we can pray for you!

Live clean, innocent lives

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. Philippians 2:15b-16

When people hear that I've never been drunk or used drugs, often their mouths fall open and they stare at me, speechless. "I didn't know that was possible in today's world," they say. By God's grace, my teenager sees this kind of lifestyle and it influences him to live a clean life.

Paul encourages us to be shining lights for a world of crooked and perverse people. If those words were true a mere thirty years after Christ's ascension, how much more accurate are they today? Crooked and perverse people surround us.

The way you live sets you apart. The seeds you plant by living free of the entrapments of the world have power and faith that many people will witness. Your spouse. Your children. Other children. Co-workers. People you might never know. You get one life and one race for God. Don't run it in vain.

How do you live your life? Are you innocent as a child? Are you engaged in worldly pursuits?
Father, when we're faced with temptation to live as the world does, remind us to live clean and innocent. Please show us how our lives affect others and how they see you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Throwing off the old

“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:22-24

Throw off the former way of life. I love the way that sounds, and I wish it was as easy to do as it sounds… But maybe it’s not as hard as we make it.

When I was twelve years old, I began experiencing symptoms of depression. Listlessness and poor self image were the easier-dealt-with problems. Suicidal tendencies were another thing entirely. Over the next several years, my parents took me to counselors, doctors, and church mentors. Some wanted to talk about my thoughts and feelings. Some wanted me to take pills. The one that helped most was a young mom from the church. She taught me about women in the Bible, about faith, about friendship, and about prayer.

Through the prayers of this woman, my mom, and others who loved me, God began drawing me nearer to Him. Though I rarely have suicidal thoughts now, each day begins a new battle for my mind. I work to throw off the old, sinful nature (i.e. lack of trust and faith, joylessness, etc.) and to renew my thoughts and attitudes.

I knew Jesus Christ before all this began, but through it I’ve grown to know Him better. His love, His sacrifice, and His power have become more real to me. As if taking holy medicine, if I miss a daily dose of prayer and time in the Bible, my thoughts reflect it. Would I rather not battle depression? Perhaps. But if losing the need to fight meant losing the need to seek Him, I’d rather do battle.

Spiritual seeds are usually planted in and through situations we don’t expect and would rather not experience. Whether you fight depression or some other potentially debilitating condition, renewing your mind and attitudes is a daily effort.

Are you ready for any situation to plant seeds? Are you spending time in the Bible and in prayer to keep your thoughts where they belong?

Father God, help us throw off our former ways and learn to renew our thoughts and attitudes. Draw us near and remind us to spend time in your word and in prayer with you. Amen.

Seeing the one who controls the wind and the waves

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.... And [the disciples] awoke [Jesus] and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" Mark 4:37, 38-39

Storms are going to rise up in our lives. Whether we believe in Jesus as Savior or not, as humans in an imperfect world we face trials and difficult times. The key is in how we respond to the trials. Too often, we focus on the storm, as the disciples did. Huge waves roll in, threatening to topple us. Cold, wet wind bites through our clothes and skin, soaking and freezing us. Darkness falls, oppressing us and the light of hope.

This is a vital time to plant seeds of faith for those who don't know God, who don't know His faithfulness, who don't know His unchangeable love. Instead of seeing the storms that blow around us, we can choose to watch the One who controls the wind and sea.

And if we listen closely enough, we can hear His voice speaking calm to the storm and to our hearts.

Dear Jesus, please speak calm to the wind and the sea that rage in my life. Show Your power, and help me point people to You. Amen.

What storms are you facing? Can you plant a seed of faith for someone who watches as you face the wind and water and yet see only Jesus?

Four ways to sow for the harvest

In an earlier post, we said one way to reach people for spiritual harvest is to pray for them. That is the first thing and the most consistent action we should be taking to show others the way to eternal life and freedom in Jesus. But let's look at other ways. How did Jesus reach people when He walked the earth?

Talking to the Samaritan woman at the well:
Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." John 4:10

Jesus knew people at the heart level. He spoke to this woman's deepest need. I believe what he says is not arrogance, but prophecy. He knew she would ask Him for the living water. Showing her sincere desire to understand, the woman questioned Jesus about the contents of the well and how He could possibly get living water for her.

The next thing Jesus does is speak in practical terms:
Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again." John 4:13


We can meet people with things they understand and with facts they can relate to. We drink, we get thirsty, we drink again, and on the cycle goes. But Jesus says the person who drinks of His living water will have a "fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." (John 4:14)

After revealing her life situation, Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. He reveals Himself to her, saying, "I AM the Messiah!" We must not rush people into a heartfelt decision for Jesus, but we must not delay. How can we know when the time is right? We listen to them, and we listen to the Spirit reveal His perfect timing.

What was the result of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well? She didn't walk back to her people, calmly and quietly replaying her interaction with Him. She raced back to the village so fast that she left her water jug at the well. And she didn't keep her new-found knowledge to herself. She told everyone she'd come face to face with the Messiah.

Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, "He told me everything I ever did!" John 4:39


Then  they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world." John 4:42

The Bible tells us that Jesus is love, and as He doesn't tolerate lies we know He spoke the truth. I believe His actions are prompted and characterized by love. The people He met recognized this, and the people you meet will recognize it, too. Speak the truth in love, waiting on the word of the Lord, and pray for the people you want to see added to the Kingdom. Then watch the Spirit move.

What would you do if you met Jesus face to face? Can you be a physical representation of His love and truth to anyone in your life?

Does seeing and hearing lead to believing?

"We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:3

I'm sitting in a popular coffee shop, listening to the elevator music and pieces of conversation that float around me. Over the din comes a man's voice, speaking slowly, carefully forming each word.

"How are you feeling, Mom?" He's on the phone several booths away, but I hear his voice as if he sits beside me. He waits while she speaks.

"I know you're tired. Let me pray for you before we go." He has to repeat it twice, and each time he expresses patience and kindness.

And to my astonishment, he prays. Loudly. Slowly. With the entire coffee shop listening. I'm embarrassed and saddened to admit that this astonishes me. How different would our world be if we all took opportunities as this man does, as the disciples did, to pray for others? To do so without shrinking or puffing ourselves up? And in praying, to actually see and hear and have fellowship with Jesus and His followers?

For those of you that don't know Jesus, let me say this: sometimes having a personal interaction with Him looks different than we expect. It's not ethereal or mysterious. It's not soul-shaking. It doesn't alter the planets. But hopefully it alters us, and in time it should shake our souls to the point of seeking Jesus and everything He stands for.

This man's simple action of love altered my day. Changed the course of my actions. I pray you see and hear Jesus in your life through simple actions of love, that your actions and your souls are shaken by knowing Him. And I pray that, seeing and hearing, you believe and accept Him.

"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn - not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God." John 1:12-13

Whether or not you believe Jesus is the Savior of the world, have you had a personal experience that brought you closer to accepting Him? Please share your thoughts with us!

Witnesses to the ends of the earth

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus tells us to spread the word, to share His Good News and teach others all over the globe about Him. It's one of the best known commands in the New Testament: The Great Commission. If you've ever had the thrill of leading someone to salvation in Jesus Christ, you know it often doesn't come quickly or easily. In our sin, we resist even the security of unconditional love and acceptance. How, then, do we fulfill this desire to go and make disciples, to sow seeds that will reap a bountiful harvest?

We pray. We ask for souls, for guidance, for boldness. And we trust that the Lord gives it.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

We don't have to go to the ends of the earth to find someone who needs Jesus. Often, it's someone we know. The lonely, troubled, endangered, weak, and unprotected all need Him. But so do those who outwardly appear strong, intimidating, and in control. Who can you pray for today?

Father God, we covet souls for Your divine grace and gift of salvation. Please reach them with Your love. Open their ears and eyes to see their need. Prepare their hearts to receive Your word, and may we experience the power of Your Holy Spirit as we witness to them. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Seek God's Face

When you said, "Seek My Face", my heart said to you, "Your Face, O Lord, I shall seek.."  Psalm 27: 8

 For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12



Beautiful Spring is arriving in the Rocky Mountains and it is time to begin our prayer blogging once more.  We have taken a short unannounced hiatus to evaluate the future of this ministry and God is ever faithful to meet us when we seek Him for his will. God is faithful to provide not only the insight but the fortitude to continue on the earthly journey before we come to our final rest with Him. 

The Lord has given clear direction in reference to Elohim Prayer Bead ministry and we will continue our blogs and the sales of our prayer beads for specific needs and points of prayer.  Thank you to all of you who have asked about the status of the ministry.  Your input has been greatly appreciated.  We are privileged to walk the path of Christ with you. 

Father ~ Thank you that your Spirit opens new insights through your Word.  Your Word is powerful and truthful, able to lead us to honesty with ourselves and to know your heart for us.  Thank you for calling us to a relationship with you.  Give us hearts that desire you more than the attractions of this world.  Give us strength and courage for the journey and hearts that love you and others with the compassion of Christ.  We bring our needs to you Lord. 

Praise be to God. 

     



God sings over you!

Happy Monday, pray-ers. As we kick off another work week, I'd like to remind you of one of God's sweetest promises. This comes at a dark and frightening time for much of the world with the people of Japan struggling to survive amid continuous aftershocks and tsunami threats. The instability affects the entire world economically, environmentally, and physically.

Your situation might not be as newsworthy as a tsunami or a 9.0 earthquake and it might not impact tens of thousands, but it might feel just as terrifying to you. Each life is valuable to God. Each person's trauma breaks His heart. As you read the following Scripture and the prayer that follows, take time to meditate on it. Allow His promise to soak into your heart and change your outlook.

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for your promises. Please save us. Show us how you delight in us and rejoice over us. We need the quiet that comes only from you. Draw us close in these unsettling days. May we return your love and faithfulness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Praying for you all,
Shelley

February challenge results - Pray daily

Happy Monday, dear readers. It's nearly the middle of March, and we're about to finish our segment on praying The Lord's Prayer. We were ambitious in scheduling such an important and rich piece of Scripture to one month. As we know, all Scripture is God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), but the Lord's Prayer quite literally came from His mouth. It deserves more attention than I normally give it.

Our challenge this month was to pray daily. How did that go for you? Remember, we're still using prayer journals, and this is a very effective way to record each prayer and how God answers it. Adding a daily prayer seems like a small task compared to the prayer journal, doesn't it?

I found in my own effort to take on this challenge that praying daily does SEEM like a small task. What an arrogant creature I am. <half laughing> Prayer should never be a small thing. We should never approach the throne of the Almighty God as if we deserve access. We are allowed there because He loves us and desires a relationship with us.

As a mom with two toddlers, much of my praying seems to happen on the fly. Changing diapers, making cereal or sandwiches, grocery shopping, endless errands - it all gets lumped together and my prayers often go up while I do those things. The Bible says to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but it also talks about being reverent. Jesus Himself showed reverence. "During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission" (Hebrews 5:7). We're also told in 1 Peter 1:17 to live out our time on earth in reverent fear of the Father who judges each person's work impartially.

Do I show reverence in my prayer life?

It means a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe (definition courtesy of dictionary.com). I'm afraid I run before the throne of grace in a hurry, toss my petitions before Him, perhaps bow once if I remember, and rush out to accomplish the next task on my list. My own challenge has become to go before Him with a feeling and an attitude of deep respect tinged with awe. To show reverence, and to be thankful that He asked me to come in at all.

How did this month's challenge go for you? Let us know in the comment section or in an email to elohimprayer@gmail.com. We love to hear from you!

Praying for you today,
Shelley

Tempting or testing?

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:13

The final section of the Lord's Prayer seems to imply that God would indeed tempt us. As we pray these words, our understanding of the word 'temptation' conflicts with our understanding of God's nature.

The Bible says God is our Creator (Genesis 1:27, 2:7). He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving and just (Exodus 34:6, 7). Jesus called God "Abba, Father" (Mark 14:36). Nowhere does it say God is a tempter. That distinction is left for Satan.

While God will not tempt us, He will test us. "The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether or not you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 13:3). King David understood this. He prayed at the beginning of the building of the temple for the Lord, "I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity" (1 Chronicles 29:17).

So God will not lead us into temptation, but He will allow us to be tested. Indeed, He is often the One testing us.

These tests are meant to strengthen us, but Satan often tries to use them as a doorway to temptation. After Jesus' baptism, as He walked in the wilderness for forty days, "The tempter came to Him and said, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread'" (Matthew 4:3). Our Lord was tempted by the evil one, and so will we be tempted. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation" (Matthew 26:41). Satan's strategies include suspicion, envy, jealousy, resentment, judgment, and all things that are against God. His most subtle tool is to trick us into believing God is not all that He says He is - that He does not have all the power, and He does not want to give us every good thing.

The other important thing to note in this piece of the Lord's Prayer is that Jesus was specific about the evil one. He didn't pray, "Deliver us from evil." That overall thought is certainly captured in the words, but Jesus pointed to an actual being. There is one who embodies evil. He is a thief, coming only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Jesus teaches us to pray against this evil one, and to trust that God will deliver us from him and his tricks.

We'll be talking about our monthly challenge results in the next post or two. Stay tuned for that. Also come back for a day where we focus on praying the Lord's Prayer as a community of believers. There is unspeakable power when we gather for prayer. Let's come together and experience it!

Father God, thank you for your Word. Thank you for sending your Son into the world to be the light and our salvation. Please continue to speak to us through your word and through your Spirit. We pray that when the time of testing comes, we would not become tempted. Rescue us from the evil one and help us to trust you in all things. Amen.

Praying a blessing over you,
Shelley

Bringing His Kingdom

"Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Darrell W. Johnson, in his book Fifty Seven Words that Change the World, says this section of the Lord's Prayer, "is one of, if not the most radical things a human being can do."

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray this, they were starving for revolution. Rome ruled and did so with deadly force. The spiritual climate of the day was lukewarm. People felt the very real need for political change, as well as religious freedom and revival. Sounds much like the world we live in now, doesn't it? On the surface, these words sound like a prayer for temporal, or earthly, relief. In some ways, that's true.

To pray God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven is to pray that His perfect will be done. We often don't realize all that encompasses. And we fail to recognize the upheaval that must take place to bring His will and His kingdom on earth - both in our personal lives and in world events. Think about the change you must make in your daily life to give in completely and live God's perfect will.

A little uncomfortable? Radical? Does it take a truckload of trust to obey God's perfect will? It does for me.

When we pray for His kingdom to come, we must recognize that it is partially here in the form of believers in Christ. The Holy Spirit ushers in His kingdom, and when we accept the Holy Spirit into our lives WE usher in the kingdom. Jesus' return is still to come, so we pray, "Your kingdom come." We're asking Jesus to come back! Even so, Lord Jesus, come.

We'll be finishing up the Lord's Prayer in the next few posts. Don't forget this month's challenge to pray daily, and don't forget to use your prayer journal! We'll talk about that in a few days, too.

Lord Jesus, we pray for your kingdom to be evident in us as we interact with the world. We ask that You would shine through us so everyone would know Your love and grace. Please help us live Your will, Father God. On earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' holy Name we pray, Amen.

Blessings on you today,
Shelley

Prayer against discouragement

Happy Wednesday, faithful readers!

We're taking a very short bunny trail off the Lord's Prayer path today. It's come to our attention that many people are struggling against overwhelming discouragement. What an effective tool the enemy has developed against us! Discouragement, fear, strife. Fear is one of the most powerful motivators to stay where you are or to move from where you should be. Discouragement is another form of fear.

We're in battle. The field is your mind and the prize is your soul. Dramatic words perhaps, but no less real. How do we fight this battle? We pray. And pray and pray until we see a break in his assault. Satan quivers in fear when we go to our knees, or when we bow our heads, or anytime we reach out to the God of creation and begin talking with Him.

We want to reach out and lift you up, whatever your struggle. God says that whatever is not of faith is not from Him. Let's make a decision today to stop playing into the enemy's hand. We will live in faith. We will no longer bow to the voice that tells us we can not do it, or that it's pointless to go on, or that no one cares anyway. Tell that voice to be silent!

Father God, we pray protection over our hearts and minds. Silence the voice of the evil one and help us to realize that we have the almighty power of the Holy Spirit living in us. When we say, "Be still!" our adversary must be still in the name of Jesus. Help us realize that we have the victory of every blessing you bestow. You are kind, generous, compassionate, and full of love. Every good gift comes from You. We pray that Your blessings would rain down on us, drenching us with Your love and Your vision of us. Remind us to put on the full armor of God so we can continue this fight. We love You and thank You for hearing our prayer. Amen.

Don't give up the fight, dear ones. Don't let discouragement stop you from serving Him and doing what you know to be His calling. Write to us or leave a comment and tell us how you fight discouragement or fear.

Blessings on you today,
Shelley

Meaningless Repetitions and Many Words

Hi all.  When Shelley and I decided to blog on The Lord's Prayer this month we were not prepared for the depth of instruction contained in this well-known simple reflection we repeat weekly, even daily in our religious practices.   Verses 7 and 8 of Matthew 6 give us direction on the content of our prayers.   

                

Matthew 6: 7 - 8
And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.  So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 

What was Christ referring to with the term "meaningless repetitions"?  And wouldn't many words in our prayers be a good thing??   And, if our Father knows what we need before we ask Him, why should we ask?  These are high questions we are pondering.  

In reviewing the scripture around the Lord’s Prayer, I concur with Shelley that the Lord is clearly instructing believers on the motives of their hearts and the practice of their righteousness in a community.  It is evident that there is to be a clear distinction between those who are living a life of faith with God and those who are practicing their religion to be seen by men.  Christ very clearly states that when the practice of our religion is to be seen by others then we have our reward in full.  In other words, when our prayers and deeds are for any other reason than to live a relationship of faith with God, then there is no blessing or reward that will come to us other than being seen by others. 

One prayer of Christ that really struck me was the prayer of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.  This was an emotional and trying time for our Lord and he simply prayed the struggle of his heart.  Matthew 26 and Mark 14 record virtually the same words; “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will but as You will.” Christ offered very simple words to convey his longing  to the Father before heading to the cross to die for our sins. 

We do not need many repetitious words before our God to express the longings of our heart.  He knows our needs.  The expression of our needs in prayer acknowledges our reliance upon Him as we walk our life of faith.     “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”   Go to Him and offer the longing of your life, then live in the faith that you have been heard and that God will respond. 

Many blessings on your life,
Carol