What do you ask God for? And do you usually get it?This week I'm preaching on the three petitions in the Lord's Prayer. Last week's sermon focused on submission to the will of God. This part of the prayer is directed at dependence upon the care of God.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
As I compare my prayer list to Jesus', I notice a few differences. For one thing, I usually pray for things I don't strictly need. Also, I'm usually a bit less patient, wanting tomorrow's results today.
How can we determine the difference between what we really need and what we merely want?
Why does Jesus insist that only people who forgive others will themselves be forgiven? Is that realistic? Truly?
Is this prayer intended to (a) give us access to the good things God provides, or (b) simply be content with what we have?
I don't think the prayer itself is so hard to understand. It's praying it in real life that is challenging.
Any ideas?
1 comments:
For me praying in the manner of His model prepares my heart and helps me determine to get out of His way and let Him work, to align my heart with His.
As for forgiveness, it's pretty hard for me to allow His continuing transformation of my heart if I'm nursing bitterness, growing weeds of "rights" - my rights, the right to be right, it's not right, etc.!
I'll give those up to hear His heartbeat more clearly any day.
Most days, most of the time, my prayer for me is to stay aligned with Him, to be open to His guidance and not to miss divine appointments. After that, I pray for those who've asked for prayer, those I know have prayer needs, and anyone else that comes to mind.
And then there are "bullet" prayers during the day...immediate prayers for whoever God brings to mind during the day.
Praying is like taking deep breaths throughout the day: cleansing, calming,renewing, reviving.
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