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Can We Honestly Pray
The Lord's Prayer?
And when you pray, you shall not be
as the hypocrites are; for they love to
pray standing in the synagogues and
in the corners of the streets, that they
may be seen of men. Truly I say unto
you, They have their reward. But you,
when you pray, enter into your closet,
and when you have shut the door, pray
to your Father which is in secret; and
your Father who sees in secret shall
reward you openly. Matthew 6:5,6
I cannot pray "OUR",
if my faith has no room for others and their need.
I cannot pray "FATHER",if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.
I cannot pray "WHO ART IN HEAVEN",
if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.
I cannot pray "HALLOWED BE THY NAME",
if I am not striving for God's help to be holy.
I cannot pray "THY KINGDOM COME",
if I am unwilling to accept God's rule in my life.
I cannot pray "THY WILL BE DONE",
if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
I cannot pray "IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN",
unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's service here and now.
I cannot pray "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD",
without expending honest effort for it or if I would withhold from my
neighbor the bread I receive.
I cannot pray"FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO
TRESPASS AGAINST US", if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.
I cannot pray "LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION",
if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely
to be tempted.
I cannot pray "DELIVER US FROM EVIL",
if I am not prepared to fight with my life and my prayer.
I cannot pray "THINE IS THE KINGDOM",
if I am unwilling to obey the King.
I cannot pray "THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY",
if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.
I cannot pray "FOREVER AND EVER",
if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.
I cannot pray "AMEN", unless I honestly say "Not MY will, but THY
will be done, so let it be."
~~~~~Author Unknown~~~~
"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they
think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like
them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Matthew 6: 7-8
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