Is prayer a priority in your daily life?
Is it something you do to fill time and space?
Do you pray to just give God your list of requests?
Is prayer mundane and methodical for you? Do you find your mind meandering while you pray?
Could it be that you're not following the Biblical model for prayer?
Jews have always been praying people. It is easy to believe then, that the disciples were men who knew how to pray. However, Luke 11:1 records that the disciples witnessed Jesus praying in a "certain place" and asked Him to teach them to pray.
I believe they were beholding Jesus praying in a "certain place" in the Spirit, not a geographical location. They no doubt felt the power of the Spirit as He prayed and wanted to pray like that.
Jesus responds by telling them to rehearse the "Lord's Prayer". NOT! The words Jesus gave serve as a model for praying, not a set of rehearsed phrases to be repeated over and over. Here's Jesus' model for prayer:
1) Our Father who is in heaven...
Start your praying correctly! The first thing you need to do is acknowledge the He is your Father! As you begin to worship Him, you will realize that He is above all, through all, and in you all! Think about that for a minute: while you're waiting to give God your prayer request's, He's already ABOVE THEM! He reigns supreme! He is sovereign! He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent! WOW! What a God!
2) Hallowed be your name...
You haven't asked for anything yet, but now you began to praise and worship that name that is higher than anything and everything! Again, consider this - at the name of Jesus, every knee bows and every tongues confesses that He is Lord! Your problem, your request, your situation, and your circumstance are no match for the power of the name of Jesus Christ!
3) Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven...
Notice, you still ain't asked for anything personal yet! I wonder what would happen if we would approach prayer asking God what His requests are instead of just always bringing Him ours! It would appear that the third installment of your prayer is His request. Ask God to fulfill His plan and purpose in you and through you. What our world needs is a whole lot of heaven on earth! Society is going to hell in a hand-basket, but we who are called to be salt and light can make a difference!
4) Give us this day our daily bread...
God will not lead you to a day that He doesn't provide bread for you! David declared, "I've never seen the righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging bread!" Has it occurred to you that NOTHING ever occurs to God? He is ordering your steps and His grace is sufficient for you! He has ordered this day for a purpose! This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it! When you get to this part, began to pray, "Lord give me what I need to face this day for You are MORE THAN ENOUGH for me!"
5) And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors...
I haven't seen a place yet where we are bringing a bunch of requests to Him. Now, I know the Bible also says to "make your requests known unto the Lord" and believe that there is nothing wrong with doing just that. However, I think we need a paradigm shift. Why don't we start praying like Jesus was praying and let Him take care of our list of requests!
Oh, and don't forget to ask for forgiveness, but note the way we receive it - "AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS" God will not forgive us, unless we are forgiving others!
6) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil...
Lord, You know that I am weak BUT YOU ARE STRONG! You lead me and I follow. If that means I must go into a wilderness to be tempted of the devil, then so be it. But, Lord, also help me not to fall in to the same trap of sin I was delivered from. You are able to keep me from falling and I trust in You!
7) For yours is the kingdom, and power, and glory FOREVER, AMEN!
What a way to end your prayer with the Master! Do I really need to commentate on this part? OK, I will. You started your prayer with praise and worship, now end it with the same!
Make time to pray! And pray in a "certain place" like Jesus did.
I'll see you in the "prayer room"...
