Mathew 6:9-13 - Prayer and Practice

Mathew 6:9-13

 

NKJV

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth 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.

 

NLT

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

 

Is prayer difficult? I remember my old friend who was an English teacher. She always said such eloquent prayers. She said more, and more correct, words in her prayers than I said all day most of the time. It was so intimidating! Unfortunately, it also led me to think that I had to pray like that; that my cry to the Lord had to sound the same as hers.

 

To be clear, that’s foolishness. Prayer is not meant to be difficult or uncomfortable. We make it that way because we sometimes think that we must speak well to be heard by God. In these verses Jesus gives an outline, explaining the right attitudes and components of prayer. It begins by addressing God as Father, declaring His holiness, and asking Him to accomplish His plans on earth. Then Jesus models requests for daily food, forgiveness of sin, and deliverance from temptation and evil. Seems simple enough, doesn’t it?

 

So don’t make your praying difficult. Speak to God like you would speak to a friend. If you struggle with prayer, then use the PRAY acronym to start with:

 

Praise – Worship Him. Acknowledge the greatness of God (You can do this thru music or words)

Repent – Confess your sins and ask for forgiveness.

Ask – what are your specific needs and desires? For your church, others, and yourself.

Yield – Surrender control and submit yourself to God.

 

Praying doesn’t have to be hard; it just needs to be often. Will you start today? As my friend Pastor Jack says, “you need the practice and I need the prayers”.

 

Praying,

Pastor Cory