ROSE AND LINDA'S BLOG PRAYER

Another fundamental act of righteousness for the Jews was praying.  There were five areas that Jesus saw needed to be corrected. Official prayers, ritual prayers, long and wordy prayers, repetition, and a source of pride.

Matthew 6:6-7 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.  And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.

Official prayers are those that have become routine, monotonous, standardized.  As a young woman I briefly attended a church where we would turn to the back of the hymnal and read different prayers for different occasions.

Ritual prayers are prayed in a set routine of place and times.  We live in small towns, so it was not until I traveled to Washington D.C. that I really saw the truth of what God meant by this.  Taxi drivers pull over and park their cabs, place a prayer rug on the ground, or yes the sidewalk, kneel in prayer for the required amount of time facing a certain direction.

Wordy and long.  Have you ever thought would they just finish already?  Everyone knows someone who wants to bless the Lord for the creation of the earth and all that is within it.

This one always did get to me, repetitions and meaningless cliches.  There was a song in my youth that went like this 'Crimson and clover, over and over' you have it over and over.  What is serviced, don't you think God heard you the first time.

Prideful prayers.  Being able to pray well, so it looks good to others.   There is nothing wrong with praying well. We knew a man that did not do it for others to notice him, but when he prayed people listened, this man prayed from his heart and soul.  That is a big difference.

Before anyone jumps us, we are perfectly aware that there is a time and place in church for prayer.  What causes me thought is the prayer time before a service starts, in some churches as I walk into the sanctuary there is someone at the front  praying.  People greet each other and then go to their seats.  She is there to lead us into prayer.  She is a guide as to what we should be praying for. If this happens at your church join in agreement, or pray yourself.

As a child many are taught this prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

If I should die before I wake

I pray the Lord my Soul to take.

I can die before I wake up, keep my soul, take my soul, SCREAM.

Have you ever listened to a child pray on their own.  Mama is sick--God I need mama to play with me make her better.  Lord I miss my dog, can You find him and bring him home.  Simple, short, sincere and from their hearts.

Not like this with all the christianses:

Oh My Gracious Father in Heaven, hear me your servant as I come to You Lord Jesus  humbled, to You My Lord and Savior in my Time of Need Lord my God knowing Jesus that You will hear me when I call out to You Lord God, in my affliction because You Lord God are a mighty and worthy God, knowing Lord my God that if it is Your Lord God most perfect will that You Jesus Christ will answer me and grant me my request.

With that we will say Amen

God Bless

recj/LJG