During my last post, we discussed our prayer life. Its importance and basically how to pray. The more I thought about it and prayed about it, the more I felt drawn to provide additional information to help you formulate your own prayers.
In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus teaches us what our approach to prayer should be. Prayer should be personal, not showing off to the public how spiritual we are. Still pray in public, but don’t make a big deal out of it. Prayer is private when praying in public, pray in your head or softly to yourself. God sees you and rewards you accordingly. Prayers should not be repetitious. Two things to keep in mind here: first, don’t keep saying the same thing over and over again. Telling God you are a sinner fourteen times in the same prayer is not necessary. Second, long-winded and fancy words don’t impress God. Finally, God knows what you need before you ask for it, but He really loves hearing it from you.
In Matthew, we find this, Matthew 6:9–13, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.”
This version is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. In Luke 11:2–4 – there is a shorter version that is presented in the context of Jesus praying, after which a disciple asks him to teach them to pray. In each account, Jesus presents this as the foundation for prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is not in the Old Testament; it is a New Testament teaching from Jesus. It is not a rigid formula to be recited, but a model for prayer—a framework for approaching God with reverence, dependence, confession, and trust.
Here are some of the prayers I pray pretty much daily. Sometimes all of them. Sometimes just one or two of them. This is not to say any of my prayers are better than yours or that God hears my prayers more than yours. These prayers are the words that God has given me over the years to help me articulate what I want and desire in my walk with Him. I offer them, so you might draw some inspiration to craft your own appeals to God.
“Lord, bless the people that can’t do what I do; my work is for them.”
“Lord, I surrender me, my heart, my mind, my body, my soul, my thoughts, words, and emotions. I submit to your will in my life.”
“Lord, I pray to don the full armor of God this day. So that I may stand against the Evil One. So that I may stand against the powers, principalities, the rulers, and forces of darkness, the wickedness in high places, and unclean spirits. And my own sinful nature. I ask in your name, Jesus.”
“Father God, I pray for my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild and their families. I pray for my siblings, nieces, and nephews, my in-laws, and my friends. I pray that you would guide, protect, and direct them. I pray that you would put godly men and women into each of their lives so that they would hear your word and be drawn closer to you. I ask in your name, Jesus.”
“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, maker of the heavens and the earth. By you, through you, and for you all things were created. And I belong to you. You called me out of the darkness, you called me into the light, and you called me to walk with you. And I want to walk with you. I will trust in you with all my heart, and I will not lean upon my own understanding. But in all my ways I will acknowledge you, as you direct my paths. I aspire to lead a quiet life. To work with my hands, to mind my own business. So that I may walk towards those who are on the outside, just as you commanded, lacking nothing. Lord, I pray that you would forgive me my sins. I turn and repent of all the things I have done, said, and thought that grieve You. I also ask forgiveness for those things I have failed to do or say. Restore me to your righteousness so that I may walk in your will, your way. “
Even the Holy Spirit prays for us. In Romans 8:26, it says, “Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Your prayer is to God. It's from you, your heart, your soul. Your prayer is your thanks for what's been done for you; it's about what you want/need, not only for yourself but also for others, too. It is the sorrow and repentance for what you have failed to do. Prayer is the hope you have, knowing you have been forgiven and can move on in your walk with Jesus. Until next time,
Walk in the guidance of the Lord.
G
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