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Be careful what you ask for
Have you ever heard the saying that goes something like this?
“Don’t pray for patience? Because if you do only trials and struggles will follow. ”
This passage reminds me of that saying.
Do you think His disciples were envious and whiny… “All the disciples of OTHER rabbis get a special prayer, even John’s (the Baptist) get a prayer. Why can’t we?”
I can almost see Jesus roll His eyes and say “Fine…”
So the prayer starts out quite simply. Then, ouch! Forgive everyone…even those who have done wrong by us; Even the person who cut us off, the relative who said something that stepped on our toes, the friend who betrayed our trust and the bully who continually picks on us.
And then the rabbi asks God not to lead us into temptation.
What?!?
Look at your motives. Are they pure?
Really if we are praying for patience there are typically two reason why:
The first, you’re in the middle of something too big to handle. Let’s say, a 3 year old’s temper tantrum.
The second, you’re just being pious.
You see Jesus knows that we are weak. He knows that we can’t withstand the 40 days in the desert like He did.
So pray to God from a pure heart, and one that forgives… everyone.
I am reminded of when Jesus was asked what are the greatest commandments. His response was simple and extremely complex. Love God, Love people. In two sentences he combined all the laws and commandments into one short response.
Likewise, the disciples say, Jesus, how do we pray. Jesus says “Luke 11:2-4″. Is that it? Is that all we have to say? I think the answer is yes, and no. With sincerity in love and sincerity for God that could be our only prayer. But if we look deeper, if we expand this prayer the way we expand Love God, Love people, we will see that this prayer covers it all.
Praise God, be expectant of his kingdom, ask for provisions of spirit, body, and mind, seek forgivness, seek to forgive, seek God continually with nothing coming into our line of sight…ie: temptations.
It goes deeper than that, but God is still showing me. I pray that he continues to show me…thy kingdom come.
How more intimate can our God get than to show us how to communicate with Him. The first thing Jesus says is “Father”. This is a term of respect. Then he says, “Holy is your name”. God is Holy and we must be Holy. How? That comes next, “Forgive us our sins”.
It is followed by forgiving the sins of others. Wow! ! A lot of information there and I agree with you Heather. We should, “pray to God with a pure heart and one that forgives”.
I am so grateful God lets me know how to pray even if I do whine. If I want to cry and complain He is such a good friend to listen. My question is why do I go anywhere else to complain? I will talk to friends about stuff before I have even talked to God. I am sure some of that goes back to a few days ago’s verse. about confessing our sins. When I am sinning against someone they are the last person I want to talk to but the first one I should. Please forgive me Lord for the sin that separates us today. Thank you you let me call you Father.
I love the opening…“your kingdom come”
So often when hear the kingdom of God, we think the realm of God, but we should think the reign of God. The kingdom of God is not a place, but that that comes when we surrender and live a lifestyle of surrendering. God reigns over everything – that is not up for debate, but we ‘like’ to fight His reign. We struggle with allowing Him to reign in our whole lives. If we can get to that place (which is not a location) then selfishness is gone and the love and compassion of God reigns – and His kingdom has come.
I pray that the reign of God comes into our lives…
I agree Heather. They asked, and they received – probably more than they had hoped for. The Lord told them, “forgive us our sins and those who have sinned against us.” So we could actually pray for those who we can’t identify. In addition, we are to pray for those who may be our enemies or have harmed us in some way. This is where love and compassion come in. To put our selfishness aside reflects that we are truly following the Lord’s teachings.
Wow – that is both exciting and convicting. As I find a lot of things are lately. I know that if my heart is in the right place, then what I pray for will be in the right place. But be careful, like the example given, if we pray for patience, trials probably will follow. It takes a little hurt to stretch us and help us grow. On the up side, while we learn, we can help others learn. It is the pain that can make us (an our relationship with God) stronger.
I hesitate when I pray this, “Bring it on!”
Heather, thank you for sharing. What an eye opener! Amen!
The statistics say that some 85% of Americans pray… and yet most are asking the same question: “Can someone teach me to pray?” Most of us know that prayer should go beyond emergency and crisis grenades… and meal-time obligatory words. I don’t think God necessarily dismisses these kinds of prayers, but there’s more, right? There has to be. Our hunger only proves there is more.
My brief conversations with my wife and short “I love yous” are good, but there’s more. There’s an abundance in my marriage that goes deeper and better. I’m still learning.
God, teach me to pray. I want the fullness of my relationship with Jesus that will only come through prayer — speaking and listening. What if God taught an entire church to really pray? What if it really was the DNA? May it be so.
Thanks, Heather. You are an awesome woman of God. Glad you’re a vital part of CCC and the Kingdom.
Thanks Heather you have such a good perspective.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Wow what a prayer request.
The first part is a no brainer. The second is one of the hardest things in the world. The only way I can do it(forgive) is if I keep a clear view of my own state. I am a sinner saved by grace. I am miserable and retched. I am a terribly bad person in comparision to the Holiness of God. Do not get me wrong I do have a healthy self esteem sometimes too healthy. But if I realize I am as bad and as capable of the most horrific sins that helps me forgive others because I have been forgiven and I am worse than any of my detractors.
Lord teach us to pray. What Jesus teaches His disciples was not a matter of how to do it, but rather to pray like He prayed. When Jesus prayed He was having an intimate fellowship with the Father. The prayer given is an example of placing ones self in that intimate fellowship. Prayer is to be given by the individual both privately and openly with others. In general, most prayers should have four parts. The four parts of prayer can be remembered by the acronym A.C.T.S. and can be useful when we remember to follow Jesus’ ACTS.
A. Adoration
C. Confession
T. Thanksgiving
S. Supplication
Believers who follow Jesus’ example by praying with sincere and humble hearts will begin to deepen their fellowship with God and connect with Him more intimately than ever.
I had a good prayer conversation with my mom today. She basically said the same things y’all have commented on here. We actually had the conversation before I read today’s comments on this site. I think she read this site first and has been doing it quite often, which is a good thing!!
I will pay you $500 for your personal cell# and 1hr. You rock at what you do! hats off!