Daily Devotional for Friday, March 26, 2010 Have you missed any of our devotionals? Remember they can be found in the Archive section of our Website
http://www.gospelines.com "Let Us Pray" Part 2 "Pray after this manner, Our Father, which art in Heaven" Matthew 6:9 KJV There are two great building blocks which form the foundation for the Christian life: one is the careful study of God's Word and the other is prayer. Prayer is our speaking to God and reading the Bible is God speaking to us. The Psalmist instructed us to meditate on the Word of God day and night (Psalm 1:2) , and the apostle Paul said that we should pray non-stop (1 Thessalonians 5:17 ) . Jesus doesn't teach us about the posture of prayer because any posture will do. In the Bible people prayed standing, lifting up their hands, sitting, kneeling, lifting up their eyes, bowing down, placing their head between their knees, pounding on their breast, or facing a temple. He doesn't tell us anything about the place of prayer: people in the Bible prayed in battle, in a cave, inside a fish, in a closet, in a garden, on a mountainside, by a river, by the sea, in the street, and in God's house. He doesn't tell us about the times of prayer. Jesus says we are to pray after this manner, "Our Father who art in Heaven" (Matthew 6:9 KJV) . And why does it begin that way? Because God is the focus of prayer; it begins with the recognition that God is our Father. The word "OUR" is not universal as some would want us to believe, but it refers ONLY to the true children of God, Christians, those who are believers! This is not a liberal reference to the universal Fatherhood of God; God isn't everybody's Father except as it references creation. "OUR" says that we are not alone, but that we are part of a larger community who follows the same pathway in this world. Hallelujah! What does it mean that He is our Father? 1. It removes fear. Unlike the heathen, they are afraid of their gods. 2. It provides hope. We are to obey our Father who has paid the consequences of sin on our behalf, through His Son. Praise God! 3. It does away with loneliness. Sin separates us from everything and everyone who is decent. But our Father has pulled us together again in a family of believers. 4. It settles the matter of resources. There isn't much to draw from in this bankrupt world, which is devoid of love, joy, and happiness. But look! He is not of this world: "Our Father, who art in Heaven!" Oh, what a great thought: we pray to a Father who has eternal resources. So to begin a prayer, "Our Father, which art in heaven," is to indicate my eagerness to come as a beloved child to a loving Father, to receive all that His love can possibly give me in this lifetime as well as the life that is to come. GospeLines Prayer: Thank you, Father, that I am not still wandering in the crowd, but that I am now Your child. I am grateful that you respond when we say daddy, papa, Abba in intimacy, because You care. We are not just subjects in Your Kingdom, or servants, or friends, but You made us sons and daughters! Amen and amen. O. Addison Gethers e-mail address [email protected] [email protected] Twitter URL www.twitter.com/OAddisonGethers -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=en.
