Prayer: Part VI (final)

 Consistent with the Lord’s Prayer, in Mark 11:25, Jesus instructs that in prayer, believers should extend forgiveness to each other as God has extended His own forgiveness to them.  This principle is also articulated in the parable of the unmerciful servant which is found in Matthew 18:21-35. 

 

Prayer: Part V

 Prayer reflects dependence on God and His divine providence through requests for sustenance, forgiveness, protection, and all other supplications.  Psalm 107 reflects the depth of God’s work in the lives of believers.  The message found in Ephesians 1:3-12 also memorializes the role of humanity in the predestined plan of God.  E.M. Bounds wrote that, “[p]rayer is asking God for something, and for something which He has promised.  Prayer is using divinely appointed means for obtaining what we need and for accomplishing what God proposes to do on earth.

 

Prayer: Part IV

Prayer is an expression of submission of individual will to that of the Father.  James 4:7-8 reminds believers to “[s]ubmit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”  Daniel 10: 10-14 also presents an example of how God hears the prayers of a believer who has humbled himself before God. 

 

Prayer: Part II

Prayer is directed to the Father.  Believers are to have faith in God, believing that He hears them, and if they ask according to His will, those things will come to pass.   This principle is also reflected in 1 John 5:14-15, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him”  (see also Mark 11:20-25).  

 

Prayer: Part I

A manuscript simply referred to as The Kneeling Christian, the author of which is unknown, shares a story in which a child proffers the following spiritually astute definition of prayer, “[p]rayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins and thankful, acknowledgement of His mercies.

This  definition embodies the themes and principles embodied in the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-13). 

Prayer is directed to the Father.

Prayer is an expression of worship and adoration.

Prayer is an expression of submission of individual will to the will of the Father.

Prayer reflects dependence of God.

In prayer, we extend forgiveness and are ourselves forgiven.

 

Morning prayer

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  (Gal. 5:25)

God, thank you for another wonderful day.  I thank you for allowing me one more chance to get this right.  Thank you for my family and my friends.  Thank you for taking care of each one of us.  This is the day that you have made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  I know today will be a good day.  Please help to guide and protect me this day.  Lord, I commit to you this day.  Have mercy.  Thank you for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Lord, help me to be more like Christ.