May 27
THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 1
WHEN YOU PRAY
According to J. Preston Eby:
-"Someone has said that prayer "is helplessness casting itself upon power; it is misery seeking peace; it is
unholiness embracing purity; it is hatred desiring love. Prayer is corruption panting for immortality; it is the eagle soaring
heavenward; it is the dove returning home; it is the prisoner pleading for release; it is the mariner steering for the haven
amid the dangerous storm; it is the soul, oppressed by the world, escaping to the empyrean, and bathing its ruffled plumes
in the ethereal and the divine." ( To Be The Lord’s Prayer, J. Preston Eby )
-So … Let us learn how to pray. Let us learn the purpose of prayer. In order to do this we must look to
the PRAYER OF PRAYERS. We are of course speaking of the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer was delivered to us by the Lord Jesus
Christ Himself.
-Matthew 6:7,8 states, … But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think
that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knows what things you have
need of, before you ask Him …
-We are told by the Lord to not use vain repetitions, for our Father knows what things we have need of before
we ask Him. This means that our prayers should not consist solely of just asking God to give us things. HE ALREADY KNOWS WHAT
WE HAVE NEED OF BEFORE WE EVEN ASK! Remember … Jesus told us to take no thought for what we would eat, drink, or be
clothed with. BUT SEEK FIRST the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU …
-Our prayers should have substance to them, rather than just presenting a grocery list to our Heavenly Father.
We must seek His face, and not just His hand. To seek the face of God is to know Him in a personal and intimate way. To seek
the hand of God is to petition Him for specific needs. While it is necessary and correct to ask God to meet our needs, most
of our praying should be for the purpose of seeking His face.
-The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to focus on God’s will and Kingdom. In essence, we are instructed
to TAKE NO THOUGHT for tomorrow or our personal needs. So … When you pray, seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness.
This is the very heart of the …
-LORD’S PRAYER!-
