I am not quite sure about my faith yet but I am trying. While reading about bible and Jesus I asked myself, how do I even pray? I am not sure if I have the right state of mind for that, or if there is a right state of mind. How do you do it? How do you feel before and during the pray? I really want to try.
Pray as Jesus taught:
TOJ #32: Pray to God as heavenly Father. [Matt. 6:9a//LK11:2a]. I find six separate teachings in Jesus’ Sample Prayer. First, addressing God as our heavenly Father connotes that we who pray are children of God, reborn of the Spirit (JN 3:3-8) through union by Faith with God’s Son (RM 8:9-17, 1JN 5:1-6). James 2:19 says demons or ungodly souls may believe in God’s existence, so I suppose they might address God in order to curse Him (JOB 2:9). {JN 17:1}
TOJ #33: Reverence the Creator. [Matt. 6:9b//LK 11:2b] God’s name refers to His being or essence rather than to a particular word, whether Yahweh, Jehovah or Allah. However, among the names for the personifications of God, Paul believes Jesus should be given preeminence (PHP 2:5-11; TOJ #196).
TOJ #34: Desire God’s will to be done. [Matt. 6:10//LK 11:2c] This is a significant restatement of TOJ #2. “On earth” begins with the prayer’s own life.
Jesus exemplified this teaching when He prayed in Gethsemane before His crucifixion {MT 26:39-42//MK 14:36}.
God is not our genie; we are His ministers, who cooperate with His Holy Spirit (PHP 2:12-13) in doing His work (EPH 2:10). Thus, there is an implicit condition in “whatever you ask for”, i.e., we must ask in accordance with God’s will (TOJ #51).
Jesus prayed for the Kingdom of God (KOG) or God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, referring to His spiritual reign in the hearts of believers, as in LK 17:20b-21, “The coming of the KOG is not something that can be observed, nor will people say. Here it is, or there it is, because the KOG is in your midst.” The KOG is manifested in the world salt and light or as love and truth (cf. TOJ #19). Examples of such love are mentioned in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matt. 25:31-46, TOJ #35). In the writings of Paul, the KOG is called the body (1CR 12:13, EPH 1:23&5:30) or church of Christ (CL 1:13&18, EPH 2:22, 3:10 & 5:23), which is comprised of local churches (ACTS 9:31, 20:28).
TOJ #35: You may request physical as well as spiritual necessities. [Matt. 6:11//LK 11:3] God is the ultimate source of material blessings (JM 1:17), and He is concerned about our complete welfare, wanting everyone to be fed, clothed and sheltered {MT 6:32, 25:31-46, TOJ #34} as well as saved.
TOJ #36: Admit your faults as you forgive others theirs. [Matt. 6:12//LK 11:4a] The second part of this teaching echoes #14. Genuine saving Faith motivates loving forgiveness.
Confession is the key to having a right relationship with God (1JN 1:9), which is manifested by mercy (TOJ #148). {MK 11:25, MT 18:15-17}.
TOJ #37: Pray for power to resist temptations. [Matt. 6:13//LK 11:4b] This also was a major theme of Paul’s instruction about prayer (EPH 1:17-19, PHP 1:9-11, CL 1:10-12) as well as of James’ (JM 4:2, 1:5,12-13). Jesus reiterated this teaching on the Mount of Olives before He was betrayed. {MT 27:41//MK 14:38//LK 22:40&46}
We know that God will always grant this prayer request (1CR 10:13). This prayer seems equivalent to protection from the evil one {JN 17:15}.
A systematic study of prayer is the current topic on the Hermeneutics thread, if you would like to participate.
And always remember that like bread and butter, prayer and learning God's Word go together.
Prayer is us talking to God, and GW is Him talking to us.
Like love and marriage, you can't have one without the other.
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