And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Some questions:
- Anything about this passage strike you as remarkable or unusual?
- Is this more a passage about prayer or secrecy?
- Is the "Lord’s Prayer" appropriate for us to pray today?
Tell me about your prayer life. Is it good? Do you struggle? With what do you struggle?
* * *
What else is on your mind this week?
37 comments:
More Yancey (191) in Prayer:
Jesus taught a model prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, but otherwise gave few rules. His teaching reduces down to three simple principles: Keep it honest, keep it simple, and keep it up. Mainly, Jesus pressed home that we come as beloved children to a Father who loves us in advance and cares deeply about our lives. Ask young parents what is the correct way for their toddlers to approach them and you will probably will get a puzzled look. Correct way? Being a parent means you do your best to remain available to your children and responsive to their needs. As Jesus said, if a human parent responds with compassion and not hostility, now much more will God.
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,” urged the author of Hebrews, “so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
I find that helpful. Do you?
I found this powerful piece this morning. The mind fascinates me; memory is mysterious. Read this, and I’ll meet you down below.
Roger Zerbe suffered from early onset Alzheimer's disease. His wife, Becky, remembers a journal entry he left for her after a particularly troubling bout of forgetfulness.
"I picked up the journal on my pillow and read:
Honey, Today fear is taking over. The day is coming when all my memories of this life we share will be gone. In fact, you and the boys will be gone from me. I will lose you even as I am surrounded by you and your love. I don't want to leave you. I want to grow old in the warmth of memories. Forgive me for leaving so slowly and painfully.
Blinking back tears, I picked up my pen and wrote:
My sweet husband, What will happen when we get to the point where you no longer know me? I will continue to go on loving you and caring for you—not because you know me or remember our life, but because I remember you. I will remember the man who proposed to me and told me he loved me, the look on his face when his children were born, the father he was, the way he loved our extended family. I'll recall his love for riding, hiking, and reading; his tears at sentimental movies; the unexpected witty remarks; and how he held my hand while he prayed. I cherish the pleasure, obligation, commitment, and opportunity to care for you because I REMEMBER YOU!"
Wow.
I am struck by how important memory is to God. Throughout his interaction with humankind God always calls his creation to remember. Even when we forget God, he still remembers us. I think this week’s prayer is a powerful way to remember who we are.
when I use the "Our Father who art in heaven" prayer I always add the word 'Please' before I say "give us this day our daily bread. I also do not ask for things on a daily basis. I say thank you a lot for the usual things like a roof, my children, health, food and the courage to continue on. Most of the time I am in my room by myself when I pray because I can be quite emotional and no one wants to see someone cry all of the time. Thanks, G.B.
Wow is right, thanks for sharing that with us Allen. Her response hits home with how I feel about caring for my dad. I also wonder about some of the people at the nursing home who seem to be just dropped off there without anyone coming to visit them at all. Very sad to see. I truly wish something could be done about that but I don't know what it would be.
I find myself praying all day long. Giving thanks for little things, prayers for safe travel, sending up prayers for someone I see who is in need, or when someone comes to mind. I have been doing this for so long its automatic. However, I am striving to better my prayer life. I used to keep a list of people and things to pray about. Included in this was keeping our bullitin every week and praying for and/or sending cards to people on our list. I am so glad an updated info list is on the way, I have wanted one for a very long time.
One more thing I like is calling on the Holy Spirit to intercede for me when situations are beyond my words. I find this very comforting. When life gets very confusing and in turmoil I feel spiritual battles are going on and I ask the Holy Spirit to protect me from the source or sourses. To me this is bringing it back to childlike faith, as children we expect our parents to protect us from harm, so we should rely on God to do the same because we are His children.
There is power in prayer so praying is powerful. I would love to learn how to pray better.
Annette
In Jesus' instruction on how to pray, I think He is using the same principle as in giving-secretly-in private, not for show or to elevate us in any way. Because the first sentence of the prayer starts with 'Our Father' we can have the security of knowing that because he has adopted us as his children through Christ that he sees in secret and knows all that is on our heart but he wants us to come to him and talk about it just as a good father would want his child to do. The next part of the first sentence is 'who is' and I think this tells us that he is the God of right now, in this place. Yes, He was there yesterday, and yes he will be there for us tomorrow but right now he listens to our thoughts, our burdens and our words. Most of my prayers are for others unless there is something I need guidance and help with, which is every day. It is then I pray for myself that He will help me do or say what is right. He gives me life each day and I thank him for each moment I have here and for the people he has put into my life as a blessing (and for those who challenge me too). I will relay an encounter I had last week with a client who had come in to finalize a policy. Being a very fastidious person, she had a black jacket on and a scarf that shed a little on it. She picked a piece of lint off the jacket and put it on my desk and asked me to throw it away. I left it on my desk as I was working on the policy and then she ordered me again to throw the piece of lint away and I did without flinching. After she left Jim said, 'she is something else, isn't she', and all I said was 'yes.' I didn't say, 'how rude and demeaning' her attitude was but when I got home and thought about it and about her. Her focus was all about a little piece of lint. How trivial. I wondered what is missing in a life that is focused on lint and appearance and I wondered if I have ever done anything offensive without realizing and I knew I had because I am human and imperfect. I need my Savior's forgiveness and in turn I forgive others. All we need is enough for today of forgiveness and necessities of life, and He gives it freely. He just wants us to ask. We are His adopted children through His Son, our advocate. I have gone on too long. Have a blessed week everyone. Love, Sherron
I seem to feel closer to God when I do go in a room by myself to pray. I can almost see him smiling with his arms open wide ready to listen.
As parents, especially when you have older children and they call and ask your advice you know how that make you feel. God feels the same way. We are blessed to have him as close as prayer but we don't take advantage of it like we should. I know I do not pray as much as I should and I am going to try to do better is this new year.
He is telling us to acknowledge him as Our Father, to forgive as he has forgiven us. He wants us to be looking forward to his kingdom .
Jesus gave the example of praying in secret by getting away to pray to his father.
He needed that time and so do we ! Anonymous
Are you about “Yancied” out yet? You’re not? Good, ‘cause I have another quote for you. This one regards the importance of gratitude and the difference it makes in life.
I have a vivid memory of two back-to-back nights in Chicago. One evening I met with a good friend who informed me she was leaving her husband, also a close friend. “He doesn’t meet my needs,” she said. “I know he tries to be a good husband and good father, but I’ve found someone better. I’m leaving him.” After listening to her, I talked about the difficulties all marriages face and reminded her of her husband’s good qualities and all that she would be losing. She agreed with everything I said but had already made up her mind. I left that meal with a heavy heart, knowing my wife and I had lost one our best couple friendships.
The very next night I attended a celebration organized by a young widow whose husband had died of brain cancer. On the night that would have been Chuck’s thirty-second birthday, she was holding a party in his memory. I knew the agony they had been through during his surgery and prolonged treatment. Lynn now faced the double burden of paying off medical bills and supporting two children as a single mother. Still reeling from the news of my friend’s impending divorce, I went to Lynn’s house with a sense of foreboding.
I heard not a word of complaint or regret that night. Lynn passed around photos and had each of us call up memories of her husband. We laughed, and cried, and Lynn pulled out a guitar and sang some of his favorite songs. She talked about the good times they had shared together, his corny jokes, the cartoons he drew, the intimacy of walking together through the progression of his illness. “I will always miss him,” she said, “but I’ll always be grateful for the exciting few years we shared together. Chuck was a gift to me.”
On consecutive nights I saw a stark difference in two approaches to life. One resents loss and wants more. One celebrates life as a gift, something to remember with gratitude. I ask God for that spirit regardless of my circumstance.”
This comes from Prayer - Does It Make Any Difference? pages 276-8.
Lord, help me to be more grateful in and for all things.
Dallas Willard in The Divine Conspiracy (258), regarding the Lord’s prayer found in Luke and our passage for this week, says this:
Having taught us to address God in the manner indicated, the remainder of the model prayer as given in Luke 11 consists of requests or categories of requests.
There are five of them:
1. That the name of “God” would be regarded with the utmost possible respect and endearment.
2. That his kingdom would fully come on earth.
3. That our needs for today be met today.
4. That our sins be forgiven, not held against us.
5. That we not be permitted to come under trial or to have bad things happen to us.
These are basically the same as in Matthew 6, where a little wording is added to some of them.
Reading the blog and everyones comments gets my days off to a great start. I just wanted to let everyone know that I love them and hope they have a great day. Thanks & In Christian Love, Jamie
Blah, blah, blah...
Talk about vain repetition (little KJV language for you)! Surely you can do better than that! Maybe mix in a "yada" with "blah."
Where's my belt? No I have a better idea...........go cut your own switch off the tree.......
Better get a good one or I will go get the whole tree
I believe someone meant to say, "blog, blog, blog" in order to stimulate more interaction.
Tony
Thanks Tony, I think you are right. I told myself I would take everything on here as sincere or a joke and not be so protective. I am too protective of those I love, it was sure true with Luke. Not that Allen needs my protection, but he still falls under the net of those I love. I know those comments about the switch were a joke because I wrote them. Just trying to have a little fun,
Annette
Tony is the my personal philosopher. He is always full of profundity. He also a peacemaker evidently. But, I must confess, on our really long runs (4-5 hours) he bores me to tears. I, of course, always remain witty, clever, positive--just a ray of sunshine.
I actually love the belt/switch references. Cracking me up!
Oh and Jamie we love you too. What an inspiration you are! You have the patience and endurance of a saint. As I watch you interact with Jada I find myself wanting to be more like you. Isn't it great that Jesus not only gives us his examples to follow in the bible but also through others actions who are living it? I know Jay must really appreciate you.
Annette
Yada, yada, yada...some group of people correcting me on that.
NO! You still didn't get it right!
It should be blah, blah, yada, yada...
You may just get sent to bed without your supper. Then maybe you could learn to mind your manners.
Allen, for the group
I will end my blogging day with a little more Dallas Willard (202). Here he is talking about Matthew 6:1-18 in an unusual, seemingly relevant, way.
Often the “eyeservice” that occurs in present-day church services comes in the form of trying to “move” people. “Wasn’t that a great service,” we often say. But what do we mean? Are we really thinking about how God felt about the service? What is the correlation between God’s view of a great service and the human view? We need to be very careful about this, or the rule, “Truly, they have their reward,” may apply to us.
Suppose I am a pastor. If, truly, God did nothing in my church service, or in response to my efforts in ministry, how much would it really matter if the people in attendance still thought and spoke well of things and returned for the next service and brought their friends? I may be tempted to think I have to attract people to hear me but could get by without God.
How can one in a leadership position not be haunted by what the Lord said to his prophet Ezekiel:
Everyone is talking about you all the time. They say, “Come and let’s hear what the word is from the Lord.” And they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them. For their mouths talk devotion but their hearts seek wicked gains. Why, you are just like one who sings about love with a beautiful voice and well-played instrument. They hear what you are saying, but do not do it. (Ezek. 33:31-32)
Whatever our position in life, if our lives and works are to be of the Kingdom of God, we must not have human approval as a primary or even major aim. We must lovingly allow people to think whatever they will. We may, if it seems right, occasionally try to help them understand us and appreciate what we are doing. That could be an act of love. But in any case we can only serve them by serving the Lord only.
What do you think of that?
Here's an "oldie but goodie." I THINK this may have originated with Max Lacado. I think it fits our passage for the week fairly well: simplicity and secrecy.
The Chair
There is story told of an old man who was dying of cancer. The man’s daughter had asked the new preacher to come and pray with her father. When he arrived, he found a note on the door from the daughter, inviting him to come in and find her father in the bedroom, down the hall. The reluctant preacher came in and found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. There was an empty chair beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. Pointing to the chair, the preacher said, “I guess you were expecting me.”
The old man said, “No, who are you?”
“I’m the new minister at your daughter’s church,” he replied. “When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up.”
The bedridden man looked at the preacher, then the chair, then the preacher again, and said, “Would you mind closing the door?” A bit puzzled the minister shut the door. The man began to talk. “I’ve never told this to anyone, not even my daughter,” said the man. “But all of my life I have never known how to pray. On Sundays I used to hear the preacher talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head. I tried praying but I just couldn’t get the hang of it, so I quit.” The old man continued, “But one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, ‘Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here’s what I suggest. Sit down on a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky because he promised, “I’ll be with you always.” Then just speak to him and listen in the same way you’re doing with me right now.’”
“So I tried it, and I’ve liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours everyday. I’m careful, though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.”
The preacher was deeply moved by the story and encouraged him to continue. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the preacher that her daddy had died that afternoon. “Did he seem to die in peace?” he asked.
“Yes, but he did the most peculiar thing just before he died. He leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed.”
Greetings All:
I too like Jamie, look forward to reading these and always check early in the a.m. as to what has been posted as well as at lunch time if time permits.
On to the topic. First, when I was younger, I was both amazed and bored by the long prayers of older men. I was in awe of their ability to pray that long and it seemed so "important" to me. Honestly, I wanted to be like them. At the same time, there were individuals that when they started, immediately I was thinking "when will this end?" Personally, I have never been a real long prayer. I find the best time for me to pray though is when I am running by myself. It is really neat how many miles you can cover when having a little chat with God and it is very peaceful.
I often think that prayer is another area where we can learn a lot from children. Listening to Bret's prayers at night is always very warming to me. She is so sincere and nothing is off limits. Sometimes I have to leave the room because I want to laugh, but it later I see the wisdom in what she says. Before a soccer game or basketball game she prays for the other team! Now sometimes she prays that they won't be too upset when they get beat but she still prays for them. She also prays for the kids who don't get to play a lot and ask God to keep them encouraged and for them to understand if they keep working they too will play more. Of course animals and the homeless are always on her list.
Gary needs to get on here and post his story about the "Lord's prayer".
Tony, great to see you posting!
All have a great day.
Allen continue to study so that you will continue to have those words of profundity to share ( I love that word)
RR
I was having a good day till I read this...and no, I'm not your yada, blah guy either...
Satan tempts me in so many ways, like the way he tempts me to react on this blog at different times. tw
I finished the YANCEY BOOK, which I recommend. Along with it I have been reading Ministry in the Image of God - The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service by Stephen Seamands. This is a fairly simple work on the Trinity and the impact Trinitarian theology has on ministry. Toward the end of the book there is a discussion of four important areas where mutual indwelling are important: empathic listening, intercessory prayer, team ministry and marriage intimacy. The discussion of intercessory prayer is relevant for our discussion this week. This is found on pages 152-3.
When we intercede for others, then, we are not so much called to pray to Jesus on their behalf as we are called to pray with Jesus for them. As we dwell in him and he dwells in us, we become co-laborers, partners with Christ in his work of intercession. Knowing this frees us from the taking the burden of intercession ourselves.
Amy Carmichael spent over fifty years ministering to disadvantaged children in South India. Early in her ministry she had a deep concern for young girls who were given to Hindu priests to serve as temple prostitutes. As she began to work against that practice, there came a point when the opposition–both human and demonic–grew so intense that she wanted to give up carrying the burden. Then she came to understand who burden it really was:
At last a day came when the burden grew too heavy for me; and then it was as though the tamarind trees about the house were not tamarind, but olive, and under one of these trees our Lord Jesus knelt alone. And I knew that this was His burden, not mine. It was He who was asking me to share it with Him, not I who was asking Him to share it with me. After that there was only one thing to do; who that saw Him kneeling there could turn away and forget? Who could have done anything but go into the garden and kneel down beside Him under the olive trees?
Like Carmichael, we need to perceive our role in intercession. It is primarily Christ’s work, not ours, yet as he dwells in us and we dwell in him, we join him in it.
But not only are we joined with Christ, we are also joined with the persons we are praying for. We open ourselves and allow them to indwell us. We identify with them even to the point of being willing to suffer and sacrifice on their behalf.
A woman awoke during the night to find that her husband was not in bed. She put on her robe and went downstairs. He was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in front of him. He appeared to be in deep thought, just staring at the wall. She saw him wipe a tear from his eye and take a sip of his coffee. "What's the matter dear? Why are you down here at this time of night?" she asked.
"Do you remember twenty years ago when we were dating and you were only 16?" he asked.
"Yes, I do," she replied.
"Do you remember when your father caught us in the back seat of my car making out?"
"Yes, I remember."
"Do you remember when he shoved that shotgun in my face and said, 'Either you marry my daughter or spend twenty years in jail?"
"Yes, I do," she said.
He wiped another tear from his cheek and said, "You know...I would have gotten out today."
Gino, you are a funny man. I can't believe you have survived this long!
Hey, it looks like SNOW!!! Yippee!
Tony are getting ready to go on our last "taper" run (tapering from a peak 5 hour run a couple of weeks ago) before the big 31+ miler a week from tomorrow. We're doing 2 hours this morning down in Martin State Forest, beginning at about 8. Join us if you want.
Gino, that is too funny! Not what I expected you to write but funny none the less!
Allen, good luck on your big taper today. Let us know how it goes. I am so excited for you guys. My wife thinks I am nuts for encouraging you. Very hard to explain unless you are a runner/adventurist (is that a word?)
All, remember to keep Ryan T and family in your prayers today.
RR
Hey I live this long because Annette sends me joke from work all the time..she knows I mean no harm by it. If I laugh, I send. Hope all have a bless and wonderful day..Allen, make sure you when you run, don't think of me because if you do, you wont get far. Running up the block is far enough for me, so think of Forrest Gump and you have a shot of making it.
Well, it’s Friday night. Ben is spending the night with a friend, as is Rebecca. Luke went to the ball game. Lester is in Monroe City. Kedra and I got just a brief taste of the empty nest; kinda liked it. Of course we’ll be in the nursing home before Ben gets out of high school. Anyway, we decided to rent a movie tonight, which is a rare thing for us. There is hardly anything that we deem appropriate for family viewing, so we just don’t do much viewing. Plus we don’t seem to have/make the time. Anyway, we decided to rent “Click.” Interesting. Shame there is so much unnecessary junk in it. I really liked the message. Makes me want to wait up until Lester gets home really late tonight. Also makes me just want to enjoy all of life, good and bad, and to not hurry through things. There were some really nice theological themes present. Here is Christianity Today’s REVIEW.
Tony and I had a good 2 hour run today. [Ryan wanted a report.] We intentionally find the hardest, steepest hills in Martin Forest. From everything I can read about running an ultra (anything beyond marathon distance) specificity in training is the most important thing. Mountain Mist is full of long, steep hills, so we are trying to mimic that in training. When I thought of Gino I wanted to stop and tell corny jokes that would get me in trouble with women. Then I would think of Forrest Gump and off I would go.
I am so glad Ryan’s surgery went well. I believe prayers were answered yet again.
I finished up my sermon for Sunday this afternoon. Now I am wondering if I will use it. If it snows like it is supposed to, I think we will have a small assembly. We’ll see...
It’s been another good week. I enjoy living here, and I love our church family.
I got this 2-3 times this week, so I'll post it here. It has some good thoughts in it, especially about prayer.
Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single father who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend
a few precious moments with his
children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us not judge; let us be quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.
Wow that was humbling. Thanks for sharing it.
Annette
ps luke should be at church sunday, its been a while and I am excited
As of 3:45 am the streets of bloomington are covered with snow, though there are tire tracks down to the pavement on second street. It isn't sticking on the grass yet. It is that real fine dry snow as far as I can tell. It is coming down pretty fast. Through the night the weather reports on channel 6 said northern indiana will get more accumulation but for us in the south we will also get freezing drizzle with less accumulation.
I am not looking forward to my drive home. I worked tonight because someone got sick. I doubt I will make it to sunday school class but who knows maybe I will get a surge of energy after my drive home.
I don't think Gino has snow driving experience but I don't think that will stop him from coming to church. Knowing him he will think its fun. I think its been many years since he's been around snow so look out for snowballs, he probably won't be able to help himself.
Annette
WE ARE MEETING AT 10.30 ONLY TODAY.
bunch a sissies that can't get out in the snow!! tw
This is the most disappointing excuse for snow in recent memory. I wonder if the National Weather Service has a complaint department...
Donna
Agreed! Get in line for the complaint.
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