Why Can’t I Pray Like Jesus Wants?
“A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does
more than a whack on the head of a fool.” (Proverbs 17:10 MSG)
Jesus is our Savior, Lord, Intercessor, Mediator
and, when He returns, our Judge. So why are there so many things he
wants from us that we need whacks on our heads to pay attention to?
“Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,’ and do not
do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and
hears my words and puts them into practice
He is like a man building a house, who dug
down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the
torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well
built.
But the one who hears my words and does not
put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground
without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it
collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:46-49,
NIV)
The Lord’s Prayer was one of my first memory
passages. It was special to me and often quoted in our
congregation. After a while some criticized saying,
“You are violating Jesus’ warning. “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, NIV).
How can this awesome prayer be criticized? I
went home and studied the context. Then I saw they were wrong.
Next service I said, “I’m not a pagan nor am I babbling! And if you’ll
read the context you’ll realize immediately following this warning Jesus
continued:
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily
bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as
we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not
into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil
one.'”
Matt. 6:9-11, (NIV)
There are often times when our spirits use
repetitive words. Did you ever use repetitive words about a dying
loved one, an urgent need, a costly decision? Well so did Jesus.
And to top it off just before His crucifixion Jesus cried out to the Father
using the same phrases 3 times in a row, showing repetition (alone) was
never His prohibition. Catch the end of his prohibition in Matt 6:7
again.
“…Babbling like pagans for they think they will be heard because of
their many words.”
He is obviously not forbidding prayer by Christians and the “Lord’s
Prayer”. He absolutely said that was how we are to pray.
Why don’t you take a moment and read through
Jesus’ repetition.
“Going a little farther, he fell with his face
to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be
taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
“Then he returned to his disciples and found
them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he
asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
“He went away a second time and prayed, “My
Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I
drink it, may your will be done.”
“When he came back, he again found them
sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went
away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.”
No longer will I allow The Lord’s prayer to gather
mothballs in my spiritual closet. It is so noteworthy. Saying it
acknowledges:
-
We all have the same Father in Heaven;
-
He isn’t just an ordinary father, He is to be Hallowed;
-
He wants us fully aware of The Kingdom of Heaven;
-
He says we’re to pray that our Heavenly Father’s will is done on
Earth; -
He wants us to be thankful for our food and explains forgiveness;
-
We need to ask God to free us from being tempted and delivered from
evil.
Listen to Jackie Evancho singing unforgettably
The Lord’s Prayer
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