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*A thread on prayer*
The Bible instructs us to pray without ceasing (1Th5:17), everywhere, for everyone (1Tim2:1, 8). And yet, prayer seems to be so difficult for so many.
The Bible instructs us to pray without ceasing (1Th5:17), everywhere, for everyone (1Tim2:1, 8). And yet, prayer seems to be so difficult for so many.
Even with so much to pray about, we often start repeating ourselves...even though the Bible specifically says not to use "much speaking" and "vain repetitions" (Matt6:7). So what makes prayer so difficult?
One reason for this is, we do not know WHAT to pray for, as we ought to know (Rom8). This is why we must have God's Spirit abiding in us, to help us pray. The HG can direct our mind, enflame our spirit to intercession, or simply take control as we pray in tongues.
Another reason is, we do not know HOW to pray. Jesus' disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, and Jesus' answer has come to be known as the Lord's Prayer (LP) in Matthew 6.
Many times, when I have heard teaching on the LP, the preacher focuses on the phrase "After this manner therefore pray ye." The teacher emphasizes that the LP is not a prayer to be repeated---remember, God does not like "vain repetitions---but a pattern for our prayers to follow.
I certainly agree that we should pattern our prayers off of the LP, and off of scripture more generally. I also find it helpful to have my Bible open to a Psalm as I pray; I use the word of God to guide my own words in prayer.
But, I also think that sometimes we should simply pray the Lord's prayer. In Luke's account, Jesus introduced the LP thus: " When ye pray, say..."
That's right, we can either pattern our prayer on the LP, or we can simply SAY the LP.
That's right, we can either pattern our prayer on the LP, or we can simply SAY the LP.
But wait? I thought the Lord didn't like vain repetitions? If I am just repeating the LP, am I really praying.
Well, if you are JUST repeating the LP...then of course not. The operative word here is "vain"---empty, unfruitful, useless---repetitions.
Well, if you are JUST repeating the LP...then of course not. The operative word here is "vain"---empty, unfruitful, useless---repetitions.
To simply recite the LP or a Psalm is not praying.
But if you make the words your own---if you understand them, feel them, mean them----then not only are you praying, but you are allowing the words of Scripture to teach you how to pray when you are not reciting.
But if you make the words your own---if you understand them, feel them, mean them----then not only are you praying, but you are allowing the words of Scripture to teach you how to pray when you are not reciting.
I certainly am not advocating that we script all of our prayers; the Lord loves spontaneous praise, and our prayers should always flow from our hearts.
That said, I think Pentecostals have been unduly skittish about reciting a prewritten prayers, even prayers from scripture, whenever the Lord has not prohibited against it.
As long as our prayers are not "vain," there is nothing wrong with them being repetitious. Jesus also told the parable of the widow and the unjust judge, whom she pestered about the same issue until he executed justice. Jesus gave this parable as a template for prayer (Lk18:1-8).
So, if you struggle with prayer, let me give you some practical advice.
1. If you have not received the gift of God's Spirit, that should be first priority. Pray for that until he fills you with the Holy Ghost.
1. If you have not received the gift of God's Spirit, that should be first priority. Pray for that until he fills you with the Holy Ghost.
2. If you have the HG, ask God in faith to lead you in prayer. Believe me, he will.
3. Tarry in prayer. If you can't think of what to say, just sit still and be quiet before the Lord in your time of prayer. Trust me, either you or the Lord will find something to talk about.
3. Tarry in prayer. If you can't think of what to say, just sit still and be quiet before the Lord in your time of prayer. Trust me, either you or the Lord will find something to talk about.
4. Don't always pray in tongues. I know it sounds backward, but it is not edifying for 100% of your prayers to be in tongues. I'm not sure that I have chapter and verse for this (but, see 1Cor14), but this has proven to be the case for me. #ForWhatItsWorth
5. Start and end your prayers with praise and thanksgiving. Everyone, even God, loves a grateful recipient of gifts.
6. Keep your Bible close by. Ask the Lord to show you things from his Word. If our prayers are only about us, how can the Lord sanctify us into something which pleases him?Pattern your prayers on passages of scripture, a Psalm or the LP (also a great way to memorize the Word).
7. Intercede earnestly for others, especially the lost. Even if we have a stellar prayer life and talking to God comes easy for us, what good is our own holiness if the world dies lost?
For extra fun, the last several tweets will be the Lord's Prayer in Greek, Latin, and Syriac. #LanguageNerd
If this thread has blessed you, please jump back to the top and give it a RT. Also, I'd love to hear from you...what practices have been most helpful in your prayer life?
If this thread has blessed you, please jump back to the top and give it a RT. Also, I'd love to hear from you...what practices have been most helpful in your prayer life?
Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου· ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου· γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον·
καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν· καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοῦς αἰῶνας ἀμήν
Pater noster, qui es in caelis; sanctificetur nomen tuum; adveniat regnum tuum; fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra.Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie; et dimitte nobis debita nostra,sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem;sed libera nos a malo. Quia tuum est regnum, et potestas, et gloria in saecula.
Amen.
Amen.
ܗܳܟ݂ܰܢܳܐ ܗܳܟ݂ܺܝܠ ܨܰܠܰܘ ܐܰܢ݈ܬ݁ܽܘܢ ܐܰܒ݂ܽܘܢ ܕ݁ܒ݂ܰܫܡܰܝܳܐ ܢܶܬ݂ܩܰܕ݁ܰܫ ܫܡܳܟ݂ ܀ ܬ݁ܺܐܬ݂ܶܐ ܡܰܠܟ݁ܽܘܬ݂ܳܟ݂ ܢܶܗܘܶܐ ܨܶܒ݂ܝܳܢܳܟ݂ ܐܰܝܟ݁ܰܢܳܐ ܕ݁ܒ݂ܰܫܡܰܝܳܐ ܐܳܦ݂ ܒ݁ܰܐܪܥܳܐ ܀ ܗܰܒ݂ ܠܰܢ ܠܰܚܡܳܐ ܕ݁ܣܽܘܢܩܳܢܰܢ ܝܰܘܡܳܢܳܐ ܀ ܘܰܫܒ݂ܽܘܩ ܠܰܢ ܚܰܘܒ݁ܰܝܢ ܐܰܝܟ݁ܰܢܳܐ ܕ݁ܳܐܦ݂ ܚܢܰܢ ܫܒ݂ܰܩܢ ܠܚܰܝܳܒ݂ܰܝܢ ܀
ܘܠܳܐ ܬ݁ܰܥܠܰܢ ܠܢܶܣܝܽܘܢܳܐ ܐܶܠܳܐ ܦ݁ܰܨܳܢ ܡܶܢ ܒ݁ܺܝܫܳܐ ܡܶܛܽܠ ܕ݁ܕ݂ܺܝܠܳܟ݂ ܗ݈ܝ ܡܰܠܟ݁ܽܘܬ݂ܳܐ ܘܚܰܝܠܳܐ ܘܬ݂ܶܫܒ݁ܽܘܚܬ݁ܳܐ ܠܥܳܠܰܡ ܥܳܠܡܺܝܢ ܀
