Jean's Blog

HOW TO PRAY

Jesus’ disciples realized the importance of prayer. They understood knowing how to pray to God would bring about a deeper relationship with Him, and peace to their lives. In the Bible, Luke, chapter 11:1, His disciples spoke to Jesus saying “teach us to pray.”

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

We find The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13; part of which Jesus answered His disciples when asked “teach me to pray,”

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. ~Luke 11:2-4

THE LORD’S PRAYER

An age-old tradition of mankind, yet how can we pray this way if:

• OUR (religion does not concern ourselves with others and their needs);
• FATHER (without showing this relationship in my spiritual walk);
• WHO ART IN HEAVEN (if I am only concerned with this world and its ‘stuff’);
• HALLOWED BE THY NAME (when we are not holy);
• THY KINGDOM COME (when I truly do not accept God’s will and His sovereignty, just my own);
• THY WILL BE DONE (if I am only going to follow my will/fleshly desire, or resent God’s will);
• ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (except I really am prepared to work in His kingdom now);
• GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD (except I commit to seek it);
• FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US (when I cannot forgive others);
• LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION (when keeping myself around or involved in things that tempt me);
• DELIVER US FROM EVIL (if I am not primed to do battle in the spiritual realm through prayer);
• THINE IS THE KINGDOM (when I am not loyal or yielding to the King);
• THINE IS THE POWER (if i cave to peer pressure);
• THINE IS THE GLORY (after seeking my own glory);
• FOREVER (if I am fearful of now and the future);
• AMEN (except I sincerely mean whatever the cost, this I pray).

Daily prayer is vital to our relationship with the Lord. It sustains us in the storms and trials of life. Prayer keeps us submitted to God’s authority.

Have you asked the Lord, teach me to pray? He will answer.

God’s Blessings ~ Debra

see you around the path

I never knew Roy, Bubba to his sisters, but my path crossed his last night after the surgeons had done all they could do.

A hush came over the surgical waiting room for a moment. Tears slipped down the cheeks of one of Roy’s sisters, and welled up in the eyes of others. The silence broke as the first genteel southern lady spoke up and said: “you did all you could do, thank you. We are well pleased.”

The sisters wanted to visit one last time before Bubba was taken away. We all went in the room together and that is where I first saw Roy, and learned a lot about his life. What a good man he was, faithful, trusting and kind. And most of all, they spoke over and again what a good brother he had been.

It was time to tell his dear wife. She was at home waiting news, as she is recovering from a broken hip.  As one would imagine, disbelief and grief overcame her; we prayed.

Pauline suffered a mild heart attack not long after the devastating news and 911 was called. After going back to the hospital, Pauline was sent by helicopter to a hospital better equipped to handle her particular needs. The family, filled with grace and peace comforted her and we prayed.

As we left the hospital I watched her be transported to the odd shaped machine with twirling blades. I couldn’t help but look up to the heavens and ask the Lord one more time to give her peace for the journey. At the same time my thoughts turned to Roy.

A gentle breeze blew threw the parking lot as my husband and I moved toward our car, and peace like a river flooded my soul.

We never know what a day holds. Let us be instant in season and out.

God’s Blessings ~ Debra

see you round the path