“‘Our Father in
heaven,
hallowed be your
name,
10 your
kingdom come,
your will be done
on
earth as it is in
heaven.
11 Give us
today our daily
bread.
12 Forgive us
our debts,
as
we also have
forgiven our
debtors.
13 And lead us
not into temptation,
but deliver us from
the evil one.’
Being someone who has been a Christian for a long long time, I
realize that I take many things for granted. I realized this
when someone who was looking as to what Christ was all about asked
me a question that caught me off guard. As much as I had
responded with the appropriate Biblical answer, it made me think!
We tell those non-Christians and new Christians with out a thought
about it, that they should pray.
The pat answer is that praying is
talking to God. We never give a thought as questions such as:
- When should I get on my knees to
pray?
- What am I allowed to ask God?
- Should I pray in front of others?
- Is there a specific time I should pray?
- Where should I pray?
- Why should I pray before I eat?
These are but a few
questions about prayer, that those who do not know will ask.
When I became a Christian, I asked these questions myself, and no
one tried to answer them. When I was 11, I just though that
they did not care to answer them and eventually others who called
themselves Christians made me feel like I was stupid because I did
not get it. So I gave up asking. It took many years of
pain, along with study of the Bible, to understand what prayer was.
Imagine how I could of grown spiritually if someone took the time to
tell me, how to pray! I spent many times alone and unsure of
how to talk to God. How I wanted someone to teach me to talk
to God. With the questions I have received lately, I realize
there are many out there, struggling out there as I did.
Wondering deeply what prayer is all about.
My definition of prayer
stands, as having an intimate contact with God. Prayer
sometimes is not just words, sometimes it is crying, laughing, and
even screaming at or with God!
Matthew 6:5-8
New International
Version 1984
(NIV1984)
Prayer
5 “And when
you pray, do not be
like the hypocrites,
for they love to
pray standing in the
synagogues and on
the street corners
to be seen by men. I
tell you the truth,
they have received
their reward in
full.
6 But when you
pray, go into your
room, close the door
and pray to your
Father, who is
unseen. Then your
Father, who sees
what is done in
secret, will reward
you.
7 And when you
pray, do not keep on
babbling like
pagans, for they
think they will be
heard because of
their many words.
8 Do not be
like them, for your
Father knows what
you need before you
ask him.
Matthew 6:5-8, was given as an example of how not to pray, I love
how Jesus immediately follows it up with a way on how to pray in
Matthew 6:9-13 on how we should pray.
To answer some of the
questions I was asked earlier, now these are not the perfect answers
to these questions. But these are from the answers from my
experience about prayer!
When should I
get on my knees to pray? When you feel led to, when
you feel you need to give God your full attention. The phrase
I live with concerning this question is, "Get on your knees and
fight like a man!"
What am I allowed to
ask God? Anything, remembering that sometimes you
might not like God's answers
Should I
pray in front of others? Yes, as long as you
remember you are there to glorify God and not yourself. As
well if you are praying for someone in front of others, that you
have their permission before doing so.
Is
there a specific time I should pray? No, there is
no specific time. But you should try to set some time
regularly to pray!
Where should I pray?
Anywhere. Be it as simple as thanking God, or
as you travel down the street. Everywhere
Why should I pray before I eat? Do
this to remember that all you have comes from God. And its
only shows respect for your Father in Heaven.
Its my hope and my
prayer, that those who have been Christians for a period of time are
ready and open to answer this most important challenge. The
challenge of teaching others what prayer is all about. As well
to have the patience, to understand those new at praying might
struggle. And realize as I have learned, that even with prayer
I still have much to learn!
