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Bible Question:
I
have problems when I am asked to pray. It is a comfort issue.
I do not always "have the right words" and I feel
that I repeat the same prayer when I am asked to pray. What
suggestions/ helps do you recommend?
Bible Answer:
You
question reminds me of the following story. It was a very hot
day, and the house was full of guests, and things were not going
too well. Finally, the mother got everyone seated for dinner
and asked her seven-year-old daughter to say grace. "But
mother," said her daughter, "I do not know what to
say." "Yes you do," said her mother, "just
pray the last prayer you heard me use." Obediently, the
child bowed her head and hesitantly said, "Oh, Lord, why
did I invite these people on such a hot day?" Wow, was
that mother surprised! Her daughter only wanted to know what
to say. So, how should we pray? Here are some suggestions.
Follow the "Lord's Prayer." Jesus' disciples wanted to know how to pray
too! Jesus helped them by giving them an example of a prayer
they should use.
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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 debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead
us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen. (NASB) Matt. 6:9-13 |
You
do not need to memorize and repeat
this prayer. Jesus gave this prayer as an example of the types
of things we should request. Jesus start with a focus on God
before we ask anything for ourselves.
Focus On God. Jesus
teaches us to speak to God the Father and to ask that He be
recognized as being holy. Many people do not see God as holy
but as an old, cosmic kill joy who is out of touch with the
world. Or, they have created a God that they want - one who
"understands them" and sees them as "good people."
But the God of the Bible who is angry with sin and will send
sinners to hell is also called holy. Jesus then tells us to
ask that God's will be done on this earth.
Focus On Yourself. Jesus
then encouraged His disciples to ask that God meet their daily
needs. This is amazing, since God has promised to meet our daily
needs.
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But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is
alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will
He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?
Do not be anxious then, saying, What shall we eat? or
What shall we drink? or With what shall we clothe ourselves?
For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your
heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
(NASB) Matt. 6:30-32 |
Yet,
we are encouraged to ask. We are also encouraged to ask for
forgiveness and to be delivered from temptation before we close
our prayer. Here is a short prayer that a four-year-old gave
in church one Sunday.
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And
forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put
trash in our baskets. |
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