Post by Richard on Apr 18, 2005 8:02:28 GMT -5
PERSONAL PRAYER
_________________________
Matthew 6:5-8 (NRSV)
[Jesus said,] "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that 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."
_________________________
Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.
-- Matthew 6:6 (NRSV)
_________________________
I went to church, but I came away feeling empty. It was not the sermon or the people with whom I spent Sunday morning. It was me; I needed to find ways to have positive, personal prayer. I needed to go into my room and close the door, to spend more time alone with God, to pray each day, and to be specific about what I needed from God.
In Matthew 6:5-8, I saw five things Jesus was saying. Once I recognized them, they changed me and the way I pray. Now when I pray, I believe that God is listening and will respond. I believe in miracles. I do not give up on prayer; I pray and pray and pray, knocking on the Lord's door until it opens. I expect something great to happen, and I pray specifically.
Now I pray every day in a private place. I simply speak to God as I would talk to my father. I try to be responsible and to work with God instead of saying, "I'm in a mess. Save me!" I tell God exactly what is going on in my life, and we work together to find solutions. Because I am not relying on church as my only avenue for relating to God, going to church has become more rewarding.
Prayer: Dear God, teach us to pray. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
How can I pray in a positive, personal way?
-- Lee Daniel Vendig II (Texas, U.S.A.)
PRAYER FOCUS: Those learning to pray
_________________________
Matthew 6:5-8 (NRSV)
[Jesus said,] "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that 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."
_________________________
Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.
-- Matthew 6:6 (NRSV)
_________________________
I went to church, but I came away feeling empty. It was not the sermon or the people with whom I spent Sunday morning. It was me; I needed to find ways to have positive, personal prayer. I needed to go into my room and close the door, to spend more time alone with God, to pray each day, and to be specific about what I needed from God.
In Matthew 6:5-8, I saw five things Jesus was saying. Once I recognized them, they changed me and the way I pray. Now when I pray, I believe that God is listening and will respond. I believe in miracles. I do not give up on prayer; I pray and pray and pray, knocking on the Lord's door until it opens. I expect something great to happen, and I pray specifically.
Now I pray every day in a private place. I simply speak to God as I would talk to my father. I try to be responsible and to work with God instead of saying, "I'm in a mess. Save me!" I tell God exactly what is going on in my life, and we work together to find solutions. Because I am not relying on church as my only avenue for relating to God, going to church has become more rewarding.
Prayer: Dear God, teach us to pray. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
How can I pray in a positive, personal way?
-- Lee Daniel Vendig II (Texas, U.S.A.)
PRAYER FOCUS: Those learning to pray