Prayer, simply

We pray for all sorts of reasons. Whether we like it or not, most of us learned to pray in school, usually just before a test.

So, yeah, there will always be prayer in school.

Luke notes in Chapter 11, verse 1 that "One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'" Jesus taught the disciples what is commonly called The Lord's prayer. Luke continues:

He said to them, “When you pray, say:“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

That's the NIV version and isn't exactly as I learned it in Sunday School a half century ago, but let's note a few things.

We praise God and acknowledge His will, yet address Him as His children.

We ask for our needs, not necessarily out wants.

We remember and agree with God that we are part of a community of humanity, and we say that we will extend god-like forgiveness to all those who hurt us.

We ask for help during times of temptation.

That's not hard, and I think Jesus made it simple on purpose. We need simple in our lives, even more so when we approach the God of the Universe.

You can use the acronym PRAY to pray.

Praise God.
Repent of the sins that keep us separate from God.
Ask for our needs
Yield our will to God's will. I always forget what that "Y" stands for.

Keep it simple, my friends.

Pray.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name. They kingdom come, they will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from sin. Amen

In case you're curious, this is the first version I learned:

PATER NOSTER, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

Yeah, I learned it in English, too, but that one dates me, doesn't it?

God bless you all. Thanks for reading.