Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever Amen.
-Jesus
What's the goal of prayer?
As I look at how You taught me to pray I see a void between what my prayers look like and how You taught.
Ask for the Kingdom to come, for the Father's will to be done. Ask only for Today's bread. Ask for forgiveness of my sins as I forgive my brothers and sisters. Don't lead me into temptation and save me from sin. Yours is the Kingdom, power, glory forever.
That's it? What about change?
A farmer named Sai Weng owned a beautiful mare which was praised far and wide. One day this beautiful horse disappeared. The people of his village offered sympathy to Sai Weng for his great misfortune. Sai Weng said simply, "Who can say what is good or bad?"
A few days later the lost mare returned, followed by a beautiful wild stallion. The village congratulated Sai Weng for his good fortune. He said, "Who can say what is good or bad?"
Some time later, Sai Weng's only son, while breaking in the stallion, fell off and broke his leg. The village people once again expressed their sympathy at Sai Weng's misfortune. Sai Weng again said, "Who can say what is good or bad?"
Soon thereafter, war broke out and all the young men of the village except Sai Weng's lame son were drafted and were killed in battle. The village people were amazed as Sai Weng's good luck. His son was the only young man left alive in the village. But Sai Weng kept his same attitude: despite all the turmoil, gains and losses, he gave the same reply, "Who can say what is good or bad?"
This may be a Taoist story but I still find truth in it. How ignorant of me to pray for something other than
Your will,
daily bread,
forgiveness,
and praise to You?
I have such a limited perspective. How could I possibly ask for some sort of change without knowing how far the ripples of that change will go.
It seems all of my prays have the word safe in them at some point. Keep my friends safe, keep my family safe, please let these people have a safe trip...
Safe and Christianity don't mix they are complete opposites. I don't know Your will. I might ask for safety on my trip to Africa but what if Your will is for me to die while there? Am I to say I know better than You?
You aren't a genie, You aren't my slave, This isn't my life. If Your will is for me to be murdered on the streets of Columbus who can say what is good or bad? If Your will is for the plane to Africa to go down who can say what is good or bad? If Your will is for me to contract HIV while in Africa who can say what is good or bad?
What's the goal of prayer? I guess it's just to share my heart with my Father. It isn't about asking for stuff because I wouldn't know what to ask. It's about thanking You for this moments breath, for this moments heart beat, for today's food, and for more of Your presence in my life.
This life is a vapor. I want Your will I don't want my life and my plans. You bought me at the highest price. My life is Yours spend it however You please. I trust You Abba I put my faith in Your will.
Wake Me Up - The City Harmonic
-Jesus
What's the goal of prayer?
As I look at how You taught me to pray I see a void between what my prayers look like and how You taught.
Ask for the Kingdom to come, for the Father's will to be done. Ask only for Today's bread. Ask for forgiveness of my sins as I forgive my brothers and sisters. Don't lead me into temptation and save me from sin. Yours is the Kingdom, power, glory forever.
That's it? What about change?
A farmer named Sai Weng owned a beautiful mare which was praised far and wide. One day this beautiful horse disappeared. The people of his village offered sympathy to Sai Weng for his great misfortune. Sai Weng said simply, "Who can say what is good or bad?"
A few days later the lost mare returned, followed by a beautiful wild stallion. The village congratulated Sai Weng for his good fortune. He said, "Who can say what is good or bad?"
Some time later, Sai Weng's only son, while breaking in the stallion, fell off and broke his leg. The village people once again expressed their sympathy at Sai Weng's misfortune. Sai Weng again said, "Who can say what is good or bad?"
Soon thereafter, war broke out and all the young men of the village except Sai Weng's lame son were drafted and were killed in battle. The village people were amazed as Sai Weng's good luck. His son was the only young man left alive in the village. But Sai Weng kept his same attitude: despite all the turmoil, gains and losses, he gave the same reply, "Who can say what is good or bad?"
This may be a Taoist story but I still find truth in it. How ignorant of me to pray for something other than
Your will,
daily bread,
forgiveness,
and praise to You?
I have such a limited perspective. How could I possibly ask for some sort of change without knowing how far the ripples of that change will go.
It seems all of my prays have the word safe in them at some point. Keep my friends safe, keep my family safe, please let these people have a safe trip...
Safe and Christianity don't mix they are complete opposites. I don't know Your will. I might ask for safety on my trip to Africa but what if Your will is for me to die while there? Am I to say I know better than You?
You aren't a genie, You aren't my slave, This isn't my life. If Your will is for me to be murdered on the streets of Columbus who can say what is good or bad? If Your will is for the plane to Africa to go down who can say what is good or bad? If Your will is for me to contract HIV while in Africa who can say what is good or bad?
What's the goal of prayer? I guess it's just to share my heart with my Father. It isn't about asking for stuff because I wouldn't know what to ask. It's about thanking You for this moments breath, for this moments heart beat, for today's food, and for more of Your presence in my life.
This life is a vapor. I want Your will I don't want my life and my plans. You bought me at the highest price. My life is Yours spend it however You please. I trust You Abba I put my faith in Your will.
Wake Me Up - The City Harmonic