Information Related to "A Lesson in Prayer"
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Have you ever stood in a church service and like some mechanical drone recited these words: "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen."
Then you walked away with no understanding of the kingdom, no power and no glory of God in your life. Sound familiar?
This passage is what is commonly called the Lord's Prayer, found in
Matthew 6:9-13. Yet what Jesus gave here is actually an outline of
how to approach God and is more accurately a model prayer.
Let's consider what it reveals.
Taking a careful look at this model prayer, we see that Jesus says to begin your prayer by honoring God. How many times have you started your talk with God with the "gimmes"? You know-give me a new car, give me a new job, give me a new house . . .
Jesus said to begin your prayer with praise for God's greatness. Many times we approach the awesome God as if He were a genie in a bottle waiting to grant us our wishes, instead of with an attitude of humble worship that is due the Creator of the universe.
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Table of Contents that includes "A Lesson in Prayer"
Other Articles by Gary Petty
God's will: