Prayer

No request is more pleasing to our Lord than that voiced by a child of His who like the disciples of old, says, “Lord, teach me to pray>”

He left us the perfect pattern for prayer, in the prayer He taught His disciples. It consists of only sixty-five words in our English translation. “In it Christ reveals the heart of man and the heart of God and brings them together.”” The pattern is not easy to follow:

I cannot say, “Our” if I live a withdrawn life.
I cannot say “Father” if I refuse to act as His child.
I cannot say “which art in heaven” if I have not found Him there.
I cannot say, “Hallowed be they name” if I am unholy.
I cannot say “Thy kingdom come” if I am not honouring the King
I cannot say “Thy will be done’ if I am resentful and disobedient.
I cannot say, “in earth as it is in heaven” if I live in this earth for self.
I cannot say, “Give us this day our daily bread” if I am living in the past.
I cannot say, “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” if I have a grudge against another.
I cannot say “lead us not into temptation” if I deliberately tantalise myself.
I cannot say “deliver us from evil” if I will not fight with weapons of God.
I cannot say, “thine is the kingdom” if I deny Him the right to rule my life.
I cannot say, “thine…is the power” if I fear what others might think.
I cannot say “thine..is the glory” if I want the glory for myself.
I cannot say “forever” if I forget eternity.

The pattern is perfect. Thus, let us never be guilty of saying instead of praying this prayer. Today carefully, prayerfully, compare your prayers with this diving pattern. It reveals God’s program and His provision for our every need.

What an inestimable privilege is yours to pray. “Our Father,” in perfect faith and assurance that when you pray, your father which sees you in secret will reward you openly.”

Attune your ear to God’s voice

The voice of God came to Jesus at all the great moments of His life. It came at His baptism, when He began the work that God gave Him to do (Mark 1:11). It came on the Mount of Transfiguration, as He again affirmed taking the way that led to Jerusalem and the cross (Mark 9:7); and it came when the human part of Him needed the strength of the Father to face the ordeal of the cross (John 12:27-34). What God did for Jesus, He does for every man.

If you have a hard time hearing God’s voice, you may be in trouble at the very heart of your Christian experience. Remember, the problem is not that He doesn’t speak but that we, for whatever reason, have trouble listening.

Don’t go for the quick fix. There’s not a method to follow. Your relationship with God is the key to hearing when God speaks to you. The object of prayer is intimacy with God, not quick answers. Over time you will know His voice. The sheep know the shepherd’s voice because they spend time with him.