August 15, 2016

PRAYER THOUGHT:  Regarding the use of The Lord's Prayer as it is often used in Christendom today, Arno C. Gaebelein, one of the consulting editors of the Scofield Reference Bible published in 1909, said, "Is it not a most outstanding fact that this prayer form [The Lord's Prayer] is used exactly in the way against which our Lord warned?"

Matthew 6:7 NKJV - "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.  For they think that they will be heard for their many words."

Commentary:

I'm touching on the prayer that Jesus gave to His disciples as a "prayer form" to use in praying for the things that were most important.  I'm not going to try to outline this prayer simply because it has been studied, dissected, preached on, and recited probably more than any other prayer!  What I want to encourage all of you who recite this often is to remember the caution of our Daily Verse.  This prayer was never meant by the Lord to be recited over and over again! 

The Lord's Prayer is a beautiful model of what we should include in our prayers, but it was never meant to be a "cure all" for every situation.  Personally, I have rarely used this prayer in a worship service, at a wedding, or even at a funeral.  I get the point of Matthew 6:7 - "...do not use vain repetitions..."

Main point of this commentary:  Pray from your heart.  Pray meaningful prayers that focus on your heart's concerns, including worshiping God, praising and thanking Him, seeking God's will to be done, interceding on behalf of others, asking for your needs to be met, forgiving those who sinned against you and seeking God's forgiveness of your sins, asking His help to avoid temptations and to be kept safe from the enemy, Satan. 

Thank God for the privilege to converse with Him.  Take time to pray.  God is always ready to listen!