Prayer

17. July 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Today, we learn about prayer.  This is so one of my favorite subjects.  I have not always loved prayer.  At certain times in my life, I have considered it a burden.   Now, that I look back over the years, I think it was mainly because my view of prayer was off.  In my earlier years, my prayers were filled with selfish wants and desires, and often times I waited until I was desperately in trouble before I entered into prayer.    At times, I even believed that there was no benefit in praying for often I felt God did not answer my prayers or should I say do what I wanted him to do.   Since then, I have come to cherish and even look forward to my prayer time.  I have learned that it is my fellowship with God.  It is how I strengthen my relationship with him and how I grow and in the things of God.   I can pray for hours never asking God for even one thing, just worshiping him, singing before him, thinking about his word, and just laying still in his presence.    

I remember on last year I took a short three day trip to Jamaica.  My husband had to go their on some family business and I went along with him just to do nothing but lay on the beach and be still before God.  I purposely planned to meet God there daily and devote those three days to just loving and appreciating him.   I was so excited about how the three days went for God made me feel safe and secure.  He affirmed and encouraged my heart so through prayer and mediation that when it was time to leave, I got so emotional that I just burst into tears.  I wanted more time with God just me and him alone.  I was not ready to return back to my business and my responsibilities.    It was beautiful.   I’m not saying that I don’t ask God for things when I pray, I’m simply saying that it is no longer my focal point.  I don’t use prayer solely as a tool for acquiring things.   

In today’s lesson, we will discover the origin of the famous “Lord’s prayer.”  Most of us learned it as kids growing up in Sunday School and if not, we certainly are no strangers to it because of its popularity.   

Our text for today is:  Matthew 6:5 ”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 men. I tell you the truth, 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 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 men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  

In our text Jesus is referring to the customs of the people who would stand in the synagogues and stand on the street corners and would take pride in how long they could pray and would find gratification in people seeing them and be marveled at their prayers designed not for God but to be admired by man.  Jesus called them hypocrites.    It is interesting to note that the Greek word used for hypocrite is the same word we use today for “actor”; someone who pretends to be something that they are not.  

Jesus also condemned babbling in our prayers; just saying stuff to be saying it.  Jesus then says a powerful statement.  Our heavenly father already knows what we have need of and he teaches us how to pray.

Tomorrow, we will begin a study on “the Lord’s prayer” and talk about each line.  This is amazing and worth spending the time on for after all, this is how Jesus teaches us to pray.   

God Bless.  Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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