Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep …, that familiar prayer from childhood that we have passed from one generation to the next, and the Lord's Prayer we traditionally learn as we grow a bit older and recite word for word. We bless our food by saying, what we refer to as grace, Jesus wept or God is great, God is good let us thank him for our food, Amen, and while they are not without significance, I ask, just as well, are they adequate to sustain us in times of crisis? Imagine the agony of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane as the hour of his death approached, uttering the words, let this cup pass from me; or from the anguish of the cross saying, father forgive them, or cried aloud, my God, my God. If the Savior of the world agonized in prayer, it is likely that we would on
occasion as well. But How? Prayer is the hallmark of every Christian’s life, it is the bedrock of their salvation.
The Bible is completely immersed in prayer, a literary illustration of how we communicate with God, and how He converses with us. The book of Psalms; the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (23); hide your word in my heart (119); Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me (51). All are a notable place to begin, for it serves as a record of prayers offered unto God by his people. It speaks volumes of one's place and the condition that our heart's must be in as a matter of entering into that most holy place in which we are consecrated, set aside as God calls us unto himself. We must empty ourselves in order to be filled. God does not measure the length of one's prayer, nor does he bless them based on the fluidity and beauty of the words we use. If we say nothing at all, but pour out our soul before Him, He is in tune to the groanings of our hearts, when our words fail. As David spoke, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight (Psalm 19:14).
Today’s episode is titled.
Teach Us How to Pray
Matthew 6:9-13
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen
We are provided plenty of illustrations of prayer, but we every so often fail to share its true significance or purpose. Why is it such an indispensable part of our salvation? It is above all, how we communicate with God, telling Him what is happening in our lives, how we feel, what hurts, our heart aches, our need for shelter from sin, our press towards salvation, and our desire for contentment, when no one else is able to comprehend the gravity of our circumstance.
Matthew 6:9-13
