Here are some ramblings from my journey… Still exploring, still learning, still seeking deeper understanding, still growing…
Within the context of a loving relationship, conversation is the thing that keeps us connected, interacting, engaged, growing…
If prayer is conversation with God, does the way we pray contain all those elements that say we are truly connected and engaged; open and honest; responsible and committed; intentional and sincere? A well rounded sum of all that goes into a heart-to-heart, deep, meaningful conversation?
How then should we pray?
There are many examples of prayers throughout Scripture, but this one gives us a good foundation to learn from and to build on. Jesus taught his disciples to pray this way.
A significant part of this prayer focuses on God and on His purposes (highlighted it in red), and a few lines focus on our needs (highlighted it in blue). My notes are italicized in parenthesis (in black) below:
“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. 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. 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.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, (acknowledge that our Creator is our Father, we are his children)
hallowed be your name, (acknowledge that God is perfect and holy, without blemish, our ultimate example and source)
your kingdom come, (express a deep desire to see his kingdom welcomed and established well with him as the undisputed king)
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. (express a yearning to see his deep and perfect desire for us on earth fully accomplished as it is in heaven)
Give us today our daily bread. (ask for the daily provision we need for our nourishment, strength, sustenance and endurance)
And forgive us our debts, (receive forgiveness destroys the barrier that sin creates between us and our flawless Creator and creates space for an authentic, engaging relationship with him)
as we also have forgiven our debtors. (release responsibility for others’ wrongful actions against us to him brings us freedom. It also helps us acknowledge that we’re all in the same boat – we are just as flawed as they are, we hurt others just as others hurt us – we can hold nothing against our fellow human beings because we’re all the same)
And lead us not into temptation, (choose holiness, deliberately taking the path away from sin)
but deliver us from the evil one (experience victory in battles fought over our souls)
for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. (affirm our Creator is the true King of His kingdom; the power and glory, belong to Him alone, forever)
Amen.'”
–Matthew 6:5-13
It’s all about choices! Choices we must make.
I choose to acknowledge
God my Father
my Unending Source.
Without Him
I wouldn’t be.
I choose to belong.
I choose to believe
He is holy
pure and perfect.
I choose Him as my Standard.
I choose His way
as the template for my life
and long to see our world transformed
into what He desires it to be.
I choose God as Ruler, my King.
I choose to be sustained
by relationship—
quality time, everyday
with my Maker.
I choose provision.
I choose to be forgiven
to admit when I’m wrong
and just as God forgives me
I choose to forgive others
that wrong me
knowingly or unknowingly.
I choose freedom.
I choose to resist temptation
and walk on paths
that are good for me
and honor God
and display the beauty
of His character.
I choose strength and grace.
I choose to be transformed
as I accept God’s help
in resisting evil
I choose to depend on God. I choose safety and protection.
I choose to acknowledge
that God’s glory and power—
His indescribable beauty
His unmatched power
are infinite.
I choose eternity.
Amen
© shini abraham, from Treasures in Darkness: duco divina – contemplative doodling
You may also want to check out these posts:
http://www.ducodivina.com/on-hitting-the-mark/
http://www.ducodivina.com/on-asking-for-the-right-things/
http://www.ducodivina.com/on-praying-responsibly/
http://www.ducodivina.com/on-the-reality-of-living-in-a-corrupted-world/
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