I have often wondered, when Jesus himself gave a model prayer to use in the Gospel of Matthew, why do we still speak numerous words and more so repetitive words everyday when we bow our heads in prayer?
Then I thought harder and I know that the Lord helped me understand this. The Lord's prayer is composed of words , simple enough that could be passed through the ages without corrupting or convultaing its meaning. But more than words, it was also a "pattern" for mankind to know what a "perfect" prayer could be..
Praise, surrender, obedience, supplication ,confessions, abstinence, Praise.
The Lord's prayer was a good guideline then and a good guideline now.
Did you notice one important part missing from this pattern. Something that we are taught in sunday schools and what all preachers do? Yes, its Thanksgiving. That is the most spontanous part of PRAYER. That is what extends the meaning of Prayer to "talking with the Lord". Many verses in the Bible ask us to pray in Thanks and Praise and Faith. This is necessary to know Jesus more personally and tell him the happenings of the day. The Lord's prayer is Perfect because HE gave it to us. He did not include Thanksgiving...But thats the whole point... Thanksgiving in prayer is something that we give back to Him without Him asking for it! Does'nt it feel great to give something to a person when that person least expects it?
Even if your pattern of prayer is Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks , He is going to be one pleased Father...
I really do not agree when people pray about the same thing everyday. I have done it too. Does God need so much follow up?
You have made your needs known to Him. Trust is the next thing. Trust that all things will come to be by His will.
When you ask , ask it with all your heart. Just like talking to a friend or your parents. Do you go about reminding them everyday till they give it to you?
But yes, if there is someone critically ill, you pray for that person and everyday you narrate the hardships the person is going through and pray for that person again. Thsi is not repetitive .This is talking to God and updating Him on the situation.
As if He does not know , you may ask.... But He loves to hear it from you.. just like an over indulgent parent..... Just like when we usually go home from a tired day at school, pour out all the days happenings to our loved ones... an update on the annual day function, complaints about the new math teacher, an outcome of a test, a lie that you could not avoid, thanking them for the new pen that wrote so smoothly etc etc.. And when you are done talking, you feel a sense of peace.. Its the same way with prayer i guess.
Pour out your heart to Him.. tell him what you read in the newspapers and what happened in office today.. make it interesting for Him !!!! and dont forget the Perfect Pattern....cause that is what reminds you that you are talking to a Perfect being and that my friends is an Honour!!
One more thing. You can have the liberty of praying anywhere and anytime...When you have the time, you can be well assured that He makes Himself readily available.
http://www.allaboutprayer.org/what-is-prayer.htm
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