James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Two men were talking about religion. The first challenged the other, “Ok, then if you are so religious, let’s hear you quote the Lord’s Prayer. I’ll bet you ten bucks you can’t do it.” The second thought for a moment and then responded, “Now I lay my down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. And If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” The other reluctantly pulled out his wallet and said “Gee, I didn’t think you could really do it.”
Prayer needs to be a big part of our lives. We need to recognize that our spirit needs prayer like our body needs food! Many a time, we have heard it said “But I don’t really know how to pray.” While there is no one “right way” to pray, a good guideline for prayer comes straight from “The Lord’s Prayer.” Let’s piece it apart, shall we??
Our Father which are in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. (First and foremost, we need to address our Lord and Savior with honor and worship. We can sing to Him, praise Him, give Him the glory He deserves).
Thy Kingdom come.
(His Kingdom come — may our loved ones who don’t yet know Him come into His Kingdom, who ever they may be. May the lost around the world and especially in Israel come into His Kingdom too).
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
(We ask His will to be done in our lives, in our friends and families lives, and in all the earth).
Give us this day our daily bread.
(Lord please provide what we need to make it through just today, whatever that may be).
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
(Of course, we ask the Lord to forgive us of our sin and we relinquish the sins of those against us, whatever they may be).
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
(Lord, help us to steer away from all the temptations that entice us — and grant us deliverance from those things, whatever they may be).
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, Forever. Amen.
(And lastly, we proclaim our faith in the Most High, Most Powerful, All Encompassing King of Kings. And say Amen, “so be it!” in Hebrew).
Let’s make a habit of spending time in prayer each day. Our spirit is longing for the transformation a life of prayer will bring!