WHAT IS PRAYER
Is it measured words that are memorized,
Forcefully said and dramatized,
Offered with pomp and with arrogant pride
In words unmatched to the feelings inside?
No...prayer is so often just words unspoken
Whispered in tears by a heart that is broken...
For God is already deeply aware
Of the burdens we find too heavy to bear,
And all we need do is to seek Him in prayer
And without a word He will help us to bear
Our trials and troubles-our sickness and sorrow
And show us the way to a brighter tomorrow...
There's no need at all for impressive prayer
For the minute we seek God He is already there!
By Helen Steiner Rice
THE MANUFACTURE’S HANDBOOK
TEACHES THAT THOSE WHO SEEK
WILL BE TAUGHT OF THE LORD
Below are various teaching
I have compiled to share with you
as you develop your desire to grow
into a more fulfilled prayer life.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
King James Version
Matthew 6
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.
THE LORD’S PRAYER TELLS US ABOUT:
- GOD
- OURSELVES
- AND THE KINGDOM
*GOD:
Our Father Reveals who God is.
Which art in heaven, Tells us where God dwells.
Hallowed be Thy Name. Shows us how God is to be approached.
They Kingdom come. Explains what God is building
On earth as it is in heaven. Unveils how God’s will is to be enacted
*OURSELVES:
Give us this day Reveals that we should ask only for the present.
Our daily bread. Tells us we should first ask for basic things
Forgive us our debts Shows us that we make mistakes and need forgiveness.
As we forgive those Explains that others make mistakes
Who trespass against us. And other’s need forgiveness, too.\
And lead us not into temptation, Informs us that our desires can deceive us.
But deliver us from evil. Unveils that God will retrieve us.
*THE KINGDOM
For thine is he kingdom, Reveals that the universe belongs to God.
And the power, Tells us that God has sufficient energy to help us.
And the glory Explains our joy is in serving & praising Him.
Forever. Amen. I His kingdom is the only thing that will last.
Author of this teaching unknown based on Matthew 6 & Luke 11
THE LORD’S PRAYER with a congregation response
“Our Father”
(for that is the highest human name that we can give.)
“Who art in heaven”
(for heaven means closeness to thee, be it in the air, on earth, or in the depths.)
“Hallowed be thy name”
(holy and blessed, high beyond all knowing.)
“Thy kingdom come”
(thy kingdom of love, rightness, and mercy in the hearts of men and nations and in every place and time.)
Thy will be done”
(through us-- and give us understanding and strength to do it.)
“In earth, as it is in heaven”
(with us as it is with thee in every home and in every heart.)
“Give us this day our daily bread”
(and the strength of thy love to share with others who have no bread.)
“And forgive us our debts”
(our thoughtless cruelties, the pain we cause, and the wrong we deliberately do.)
“As we forgive our debtors”
(that we may learn thy patience and start anew.)
“And lead us not into temptation”
(but through it to a choice of the right way-- thy way of love.)
“But deliver us from evil”
(and from evil we would do to others.)
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory”
(beneath thy law, all laws are judged. Thy strength could crush our bragging bigness and brutal force. But thy glory is found in the shining stars, in the growing of a seed or of a child, in the love of friends, and in the life of Jesus Christ our Lord.)
“For ever. Amen.”
Author of this teaching unknown based on Matthew 6 & Luke 11
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer as a pattern to follow,
not as a form prayer to repeat only by rote.
Expand upon each petition of the Lord’s Prayer as you pray for those around you. Here are some suggestions.
not as a form prayer to repeat only by rote.
Expand upon each petition of the Lord’s Prayer as you pray for those around you. Here are some suggestions.
Our Father, who art in heaven
Bring those for whom we pray into your family too.
Hallowed be your name
Reveal your glory to those who live, work, or study about you.
Bring honor to yourself, Lord, by touching and changing these lives.
Your Kingdom come
Manifest yourself and destroy the devil’s work.
Make this street, school, or workplace part of the kingdom of God.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Let obedience here be like that of the angels in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
Help all who trust in you for their daily needs to grow in faith.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
May the unforgiving have the grace to forgive and be set free from bitterness.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one
Turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan (the father of lies) to Jesus (the way, the truth, and the life).
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
AMEN
Author of this teaching unknown based on Matthew 6 & Luke 11
‘LOVE” from God’s transmitters
By Hannah Hurbard
“Our Father which art in heaven.”
The desire to be kept continually in the attitude of a child-like love and trust and delight in the Father’s presence. To be utterly dependent on him, and utterly like him. To live in heaven even while here on earth, for heaven is the realm where everyone thinks and expresses the creative love-thoughts of the heavenly Father.
“Hallowed be thy name.”
The desire to share in the nature of Holy Love himself. To be completely separated (which is the meaning of hallowed) from every thought which is not in harmony with holy love. Passionate thankfulness for the glorious truth, that the name and nature of God is love.
“Thy kingdom come; they will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.”
The desire that the kingdom of God should be established in every human heart, so that Love shall reign on earth as he does in heaven. A consuming desire to cooperate in every way possible in binging this to pass.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
This surely is a hunger and desire of mind as well as body, a longing for communication with God himself, that we may be fed by him in soul as well as in body. The desire to receive from him that which will strengthen us, and cause us to grow spiritually. “For man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceed the out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:3
“And for give us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”
The longing desire of the heart both to be forgiven, and to be able to forgive, and thus be made like our Redeemer; able to transmit God’s life to others.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
A desire to be kept recoiling from every thought of evil, a yearning to be kept holy. Separated from all that is unlike God. A longing to be strengthened to cut off all that we know has the power to tempt us and incline us to thoughts which are contrary to holy love.
“For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen.”
The desire to be kept in an attitude of heart and mind which adores and magnifies and praised the God of love continually, which goes through each day praising God for everything. The desire to be kept from entertaining a single murmuring or complaining or self-pitying thought, and that Love itself shall be the center and object of all praise, for ever and for ever.
Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer
Luke 11:1-13
11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father, hallowed be your name,
11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;
6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’
7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’
7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Many Words vs. Persistent Praying
http://www.acts17-11.com/prayer_persistent.html
A.W. Tozer: "When we become too glib in prayer we are most surely talking to ourselves."
The following scripture details the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Please notice Elijah's simple but earnest prayer in verses 36-37 in contrast to the "circus" style of the followers of Baal. They are counting on their action, Elijah is counting on God's.
1 Kings 18:25-40 (NIV) Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "..Since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire." So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no-one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no-one answered, no-one paid attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which was in ruins. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench round it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench. At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord--he is God! The Lord--he is God!" Then Elijah commanded them, "Seize the prophets of Baal. Don't let anyone get away!" They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.
Mantra PrayersMat 6:5-6 (Jer) "And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you."
Mat 6:7-8 (NIV) "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Mat 6:7-8 (LB) "Don't recite the same prayer over and over as the heathen do, who think prayers are answered only by repeating them again and again. Remember, your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!"
Mat 7:22-23 (Jer) "When the day comes many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?' Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!"
Persistent PrayerLuke 11:5-8 (Jer) He also said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, 'My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him'; and the man answers from inside the house, 'Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it to you.' I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it to him for friendship's sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants."
How do we square the idea that we should not use "many words" in prayer with the admonitions and examples of persistent prayer?
The key is to understand that there is no magic in repetition or in the form of words. Rather, the issue is relational: in being faithful and determined in going to HIM. God knows in advance what we need or desire, so He does not need to be lectured and does not respond well to loquacity. Rather, let us go to Him consistently and persistently with simple humility to make our requests known... until they are answered.
Luke 18:1-8 (Wey) He also taught them by a parable that they must always pray and never lose heart. "In a certain town," He said, "there was a judge who had no fear of God and no respect for man. And in the same town was a widow who repeatedly came and entreated him, saying, 'Give me justice and stop my oppressor.' For a time he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have neither reverence for God nor respect for man, yet because she annoys me I will give her justice, to prevent her from constantly coming to pester me.'" And the Lord said, "Hear those words of the unjust judge. And will not God avenge the wrongs of His own People who cry aloud to Him day and night, although He seems slow in taking action on their behalf? Yes, He will soon avenge their wrongs. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
PRAYER as JESUS taught
Matthew 6NIV version
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
On The Wings of Prayer
By: Helen Steiner Rice
Just close your eyes
And open your heart
And feel your worries
And cares depart,
Just yield yourself
To the Father above
Secure in His love-
For life on earth
Grows more involved
With endless problems
That can’t be solved-
But God only asks us
To do our best,
Then He will take over
And finish the rest-
So when you are tired,
Discouraged, and blue,
There’s always one door
That is open to you-
And that is the door
To the house of prayer
And you’ll find God waiting
To meet you there,
And the house of prayer
Is not farther away
Than the quiet spot
Where you kneel and pray-
For the heart is the temple
When God is there
As we place ourselves
In His loving care,
And He hears every prayer
And answers each one
When we pray in His name
“Thy will be done”-
And the burdens that seemed
Too heavy to bear
Are lifted away
On the wings of prayer.
Disclosure: Much of what is in my posts are things I have compiled through the years and I do not know if they have copyrights. What I do know about origin or website I give credit and have tried to always post a link to the origin. I do not market anything in any way on this blog -- I merely hope it will encourage and inspire others.
3 comments:
What a blessing!
God bless you richly!
Hello,
Yes I believe absolutely in prayer and feel that my most sincere prayer comes when I am thinking about someone or something that moves me deeply or makes me cry at that moment, when I know that God can change a situation which I can not. For me 'Give us today our daily bread' refers to the daily Word of God or 'mana' that I must pick up in order to have my mind renewed in Christ Jesus. I do not have to ask for food or clothing if I first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, these things shall be added.
God bless you
Prayer is such a powerful tool for the Children of God. And yet too many do not understand how significant it is.
Thank you for writing such a thorough post about prayer. And so true that long, wordy prayers are not the answer. Faith, relationship with God, honesty...
So thankful that the Holy Spirit speaks for us. :)
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