Luke 18:1-17
In today's reading, Jesus wants us to learn some important lessons about prayer.
Many people are intimidated by prayer. They don't know the words to say, or perhaps they've never been taught how to pray. Sometimes, people are discouraged by 'unanswered' prayers. Or perhaps they feel they can only pray in a particular place, such as in church or outdoors.
Perhaps we need to open ourselves up to the many faces of prayer.
Here are a few simple exercises to enrich and encourage your prayer life:
- For inspiration, listen to or sing one of the many great songs about prayer, such as Keith Green's "Make My Life a Prayer to You" or the classic hymn "Sweet Hour of Prayer". As the old saying goes, "Those who sing, pray twice."
- Recognize that God knows your needs before you even ask. Don't worry if your words are not perfect. Simply be honest, and God will see into your heart.
- Many churches have 'prayer partners'. These volunteers are often available after a worship service for one-on-one prayer, and will also answer your questions about how to pray. If your church doesn't offer this ministry, ask your pastor if (s)he can either pray with you or recommend a prayer partner.
- Browse your local Christian bookstore for a guide to prayer. There are many fantastic books on this topic!
- Join an online prayer team, or create your own! Perhaps you have a group of friends who can email each other once a month with your prayer requests. Maybe you can do this through your blog, myspace.com, facebook.com, or shoutlife.com page. The internet can be a fantastic place to pray with people around the world, long distance family members, or long lost friends.
- Garth Brooks' song "Unanswered Prayers" has a great message for those who think God isn't listening.
- For one week, pray for everyone you phone or email. It doesn't need to be long - "Lord, please bless Susan." The more often we speak to God, the more we realize He's always listening.
- Try keeping a prayer journal. Record your prayers each day, and start to make note of how those prayers are answered. You might be surprised to see how God is working for your good!
- When all else fails, return to the perfect prayer, taught to us by Jesus - The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-14)
Challenge: Take up one of the suggestions on this list. See how or if it changes your prayer life.
Tomorrow's reading: Luke 18:18-34
(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)
posted by Allison Lynn @ 8:03 AM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
HI-A.L. et al: Glad 'U' brought that up-ref.-Math:6:9-14, The Lord's prayer, for I had thought we slipped thru it, in error; when studying earlier Luke beginning 11th. chapter HIS teaching ie: Jesus on teach prayer, briefer 2-4 vs's. None the less, wanted to 'weigh in then, about 2/28th. or so, for huge impact with me.
For, small 'i', get real nervous just thinking about this, and even tapping small error's this. If, I go by a day near 2 three or more, I say Lord I want to talk to you, it could be up walking around or so, but the monk's say best prone position, but supine will do well. So, my bed is best for all that, well said.
In context, of the 11th. hour, hear this verse...for it may be your last breath, or chance...we just never know, young or old. So, in respect, and not to 'offend Jesus - or Father - so remind me', where the prayer originate from. An odd sort of reflective manner, lest we forget the Father, and inadvertently focus entirely on Jesus only. That's an worry for me, even embarrassing toi the point say praying only of Mother Mary, some or another favourite saint, entirely, and out of balance-I'd say.
Consequently, I most alway's, in that position-anuway, do say,ie: start like this: Dear Jesus Thank You...he know's simply that is reference, I recognize Him as giving this/that prayer for ME.
Then only do I go. The proper start, that little thing is apparent, important to me, in that small way...I'm talking to both, all prescient...humble an in manner of speaking...getting my even my mind set straight, to my alway's, often alone but 'hopeful heart'.
Am I able to say, "Our Father Who Art in Heaven", often I will just go through the prayer, either singular, or repeatedly, or isolating section's, and meditating on what is relevant to-day, this 'day or night', in an portion of the prayer.
That said, it would be of the highest spiritual value, exercise for me to regularly participate in, and as a result....when it is moved, in process, preponderate for me to an greater communion, 'The Eucharist', is even 'most, or greater meaningful', in that circumstances.
In an sense, you might say...as soon we will see...stopping later in sequence, an Lenten ending near, when Mary, Mary, and Martha, [ladies all] had adverse need for such an 'prayer'.
For me, so careful, in this manner to address both, Jesus, and Father, 'Lord'. I guess for some an greater difficulty, an 'triune God'....I so rely on the....Holy Spirit as well....for my 'survival'...whatever that mean's.
I would be more tht pleased to stop there', but on the day mentioned-3 week's past, my favourite weekend TO.-Star, new's, worship section article, had an near full page reference to, the radical truth behind the Lord's Prayer. Which led me to study in then, and yes, even Goggle' it much, but time/space won't allow me, only an enobl deference here.
Ron C. said, Lord, what a fuss over a prayer, so plainly, simple, natural, and spontaneous, the Catholic Encylopedia; [try it sometime] is an mere 57 word's-in Greek, but such an magnet for controversy in big-Ontario, big- Canada.
Be-Aware eh![I]
The prayer's fall from public grace began 'here in 1988', when the Ontario [Province not State eh!] legal,Court of Appeal, citing the prayercontavened the [Province's 'multi-cultural nature, did strike, struck down [negative eh?] an long term regulation, for me anyway [1936 vintage] that required 'public school's to begin their day with the Lord's Prayer.
Not only, but at century-turn, did the same 'court rule', that reciting it, [IT] before political, 'municipal-council-cities-meeting's', was unconstitutional, because it, "imposed a Christian moral tone", on these public deliberations.
Now, the local Premier, is it you your Governor, [Roman or not] to be seen soon, impoverished, Lenten-end, not dissimilar, it's time to move beyond the "Lord's Prayer", thus 100 year's now, for it no longer merely reflects, this Ontario-Province, diversity.
But only an few are peeved, mixed reactions, heritage reference at best, to acme point, the Province is in an Christian country [Canada, or USA] or England once, that must/should retain it's Christian flavour.
Other's argue it's not ecumemical in spirit, but really how can anyone object to it's universal teaching's and ideal's. And that at best, move aside, should be accompanied with other prayer, alternations from other, 'faith's'.
So for the newcomer here, the 'pater Noster' in earlier Latin, certainly the best known prayer, for such authorized by Jesus himself, by deflection, and for us, 'reflection'.
For such, as mentioned appear's in the Pauline gospel's, as Jesus teaching's, Mathew's, but also it is part of Jesus's essential, Sermon On The Mount. And for I, Luke beginning, 11th. chapter.
Awhile ago, I gave my church, an framed ink-print, an popular gothic art piece, some regrets, with an 'Green backround', of 'Jesus poignant, pluperfect, clasp'd Hand's in Prayer, for 'their office wall' display. The meaning if more 'people/traffic', could visualize this lovely thing it may have more 'impact', than sort of house-hidden.
It had remain'd, in decades, for me an symbol, an sort of hour or daily, depending on lack of sentience...'per diem'...payment symbol, for 'sin yes', an ransom paid, but for me -an re-start so intercessional, not only I.
Little, did I realize I was giving up an, 'thread of gold', even to this day, in replacement, sort of therapy...I alway's look for better, and find worse. For, the Catholic come meandering out of me, thus looking even for an, church, 'Majuscule-Cross', front and center, on the 'mantle' there. My best reminder, of curtain torn, raiment discarded, of the blood used to suffuse the cheeks, of another, born divine. All for such, what do we give up here they say.
What answer you? Take awy this Lord's prayer, in such an public even Roman, another-scrum.
Why So?
Well Spring, it was meant to be, accompanied, for me, this very spring, again, and again, you, they say.
For this man is You.
Only, for all both an reminder, this Cross, and prayer, both an 'disappearing act', like my picture, gone. But not, 'My Sin'.
For otherwise, how are we to know, 'how to make it so', less personal, an art form to-day, we need no political-assistance.
For, it's become, just an man-trap, to debase the 'cross', and take this, "Lord's Prayer away.
For, I will, to not allow it so, you can too.
For it's never spoken, in this process all, that the intent of this prayer by Jesus. It is for you, an private prayer, 'that can never-really-be-taken-away'. Not for the public, 'incitation-anyway', which at the time, in dismay, given too much attention, by both hypocrites, pagans, public order, and babble.
So, in context, the politician's, the milieu of multi-culturalism, cannot take away something that was not their'sin the first place.
The final irony, happening everywhere, is contrasted - Jesus said, past this 'chiding-all'; Council's. "When you pray, go into you room, close the door, and pray to you Father, who is 'unseen'".
So, why do we have the urgency to be seen, now.
Ron C... quotes another, on ending, It's possible, that the very public-stated here, 'Lord's Prayer', was 'meant as an protest', against fixed, statutory, public, or earlier vogue publican's prayer.
So be it, what has changed? Only, that you, to-day, will not likely....'but don't bet on it', be crucified, or beheaded, by reciting, the 'Lord's Prayer', either inclusive, or exclusive.
So Long, and Blessing To All. + k [Canada you say]
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home