So, take a moment and breathe deeply and whisper a prayer. Ancient Jewish culture placed a high value on hospitality. Upon entering a house, a host would greet you with a verbal blessing of shalom—“peace”—and then with a kiss of friendship on the cheek. The host would then ensure that your feet were washed, to remove the dirt of the dusty roads of Israel.
He was a bondservant of Jesus Christ and spent himself for the church and her people. Matthew 5 – 7 contains the well-known Sermon on the Mount. The sermon is about righteousness that comes from the heart. Religion tends to be about external forms and obedience to rules, but here Jesus challenges us to evaluate ourselves by an inner standard. This contrasts with the prevailing wisdom of the time. The “teachers of the law” strove to fence the Law by a stringent oral law.
If you showed up after the evening meal, you might only receive bread and olives, but it was expected that guests have something to eat. They’d grown up in the synagogue and knew how to pray, yet something seemed different when Jesus prayed. Something seemed deeper, more sincere, more connected to God, more powerful, and more transformational, but they couldn’t quite put their finger on the difference. Normally, this blog explains and applies Scripture to help you grow in Christ, but my challenge to readers of this post is to soak in the words of our Savior and let them drive you to prayer. Another post will share the prayers of Jesus and how Scripture describes His prayer life. He is our Father, and we are his humble children.
And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation.
Prayer is a vital component of the Christian faith, and learning how to pray as Jesus said can deepen our connection with God. In the Bible, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray in what is commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer serves as a model for how we should approach God in our own prayers.
When we approach Him in prayer, He is all these things for us, and we need to be all these things to Him. So Jesus has given instructions about the place and manner of our prayers. We are to have a private life of prayer, and we are to pray to a real Person.
Understanding the Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer begins with addressing God as “Our Father,” acknowledging His role as our loving and caring Creator. By starting our prayers with this recognition, we are setting the foundation for a personal and intimate conversation with God.
Embracing God’s Will
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs us to pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This teaches us to align our desires with God’s perfect plan for our lives, trusting that He knows what is best for us.
Seeking Forgiveness
Another crucial aspect of the Lord’s Prayer is asking for forgiveness for our sins. By acknowledging our shortcomings and seeking God’s mercy, we are humbling ourselves before Him and maintaining a pure heart in our relationship with God.
Expressing Gratitude
Gratitude is an essential part of prayer, and the Lord’s Prayer emphasizes giving thanks to God for His provision and blessings in our lives. By expressing our gratitude, we cultivate a spirit of thankfulness and recognize God’s goodness in all aspects of our lives.
Conclusion
Learning how to pray as Jesus said involves following the model laid out in the Lord’s Prayer. By embracing the principles of this prayer, we can deepen our relationship with God and experience His presence in our daily lives. Let us strive to pray with sincerity, humility, and faith, trusting that God hears our prayers and works all things for our good.
