Prayer: Important for your Life!

Good Morning World!  This morning I have had many thoughts I could share, but as I was reading a friends blog I thought that what he had to say was of such import that I wanted to share it.  Prayer is so important!  We must connect in someway with our creator if we are going to find out what His plans and ways are!  We must connect with our creator and Saviour if we are going to discover what must change in our own lives!

http://inbythroughhim.blogspot.ca/2012/04/collective-us-in-lords-prayer.html  Please click and read!

or read below: By Scott Phillips

The collective "US" in the Lords Prayer

The collective "us" in the Lords Prayer. 

I use the Lords' prayer in my regular prayer time. 

As I pray the Lord's prayer through, slowly, working through each word and meditating on it's import and point.  I will work my way through to each section and finally will pray the whole thing through.  This might take a few minutes and other times I find it to be a place where I spend much time.   I find it a good way to get my mind and spirit in the mode and spirit of prayer. Repetition is not the point, but introspection.

This morning, it occurred to me, seemed the first time, 

the collective us, we and our in the prayer.

Our Father

Give us

Our Daily Bread

Forgive Us

Our Debts

We forgive

Our Debtors

Lead Us Not into temptation

Deliver us from evil

Jesus taught his disciples to pray that way. To include ourselves and to include others.... Not just to pray for others or to just pray for ourselves, but to pray for both together.

With this in my heart, I continued to pray.  

I at times will sit in different places in the church.  I will sit where certain people or families sit and pray for them, the things I know or discern.

Today while praying, I felt that as I prayed for them... I really needed to pray for myself. 

And I did, for the next short time... I prayed for us. They and Me and Me and them...

Prayer is a singular imperative in leading a successful christian life.  

No doubt, talking to God is important, but praying properly is a more important understanding than simply praying.

"And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."  Luke 11:1

Jesus used this question of the disciples to dispense the greatest wisdom about prayer the Bible has for us.

The importance of the collective approach to prayer

It is easy for us to pray for others what we know because it seems we can easily summarize what we think they need.  It is easy to dispense honest prayer and advice to others, but ourselves, not so much.

"Help them with their temper"

"Help them with their pride"

"Help them with their habits"

And no doubt on the surface it is good to see and pray for the weakness of others.  However, it is even more powerful, when we can see we have a current struggle and while it is good for us to pray for others and their struggles, to deal honestly with our own is even more important.

"Help me with my temper."

"Help me with my pride."

"Help me with my habits."

The point is much more sharper when aimed at ourselves, in that when we pray, we are participating with the individual that has the most power to effect change in THAT situation.

And if my temper is better, my pride is dealt with, my habits positive, that one influence may have more power in influencing the lives of others than all the praying I could do.

I can pray for my wife to be a better wife.  However, if I will be a better husband, it might be easier for her to be a better wife.

Notice the instruction of Jesus concerning two men praying.

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."  Luke 18

It is more important and powerful that we have the insight into our own personal struggles, than the ability to pray for others struggles.   When we have properly, honestly and humbly addressed our own personal needs, we can then address the needs in the lives of others.

Lord help "Us" to do your will and accomplish that which pleases you.

The understanding that even in prayer, we are not alone.  The church is a body and the collective tissues that hold us together is not just the victories we share, but the conflicts we overcome.   

In Jesus Name, 

Scott A. Phillips

www.newbirth.us

Matthew 6

⁹After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 ¹⁰Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

 ¹¹Give us this day our daily bread.

 ¹²And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

 ¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 6:5
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man ofunclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.