In the very near future I will be leading two adult classes on the subject of prayer.
On one hand I am very much looking forward to leading these classes, but at the same time I admit that I am keeping my enthusiasm in check.
In my opinion there is a tendency among some authors and televised pastors to encourage people to "pray big".
The idea being that since nothing is impossible for God we should not sell Him short and pray for things well beyond our needs or wants.
But prayer is far more than simply asking God for things we want or would like to have.
Prayer is one of the most effective ways in which we develop and strengthen our relationship with God.
To be completely honest, God knows what we need even before we are aware of it.
Matthew 6:8 (NET) - Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
I think we would do well to heed the examples Jesus gave us when it comes to payer.
On one hand, He told us how not to pray.
Luke 18:11 (NET) - The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortioners, unrighteous people, adulterers - or even like this tax collector.
A short time later, He told us a better way.
Luke 18:13 (NET) - The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!
His disciples had the right idea when they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.
And Jesus did just that.
The prayer that He taught them we now call the Lord's Prayer.
We can pray as some suggest and "pray big".
Or, we can pray the way Jesus taught us to pray.
If you decide to "pray big" anyway, be careful.
You just might get exactly what you prayed for.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com
On one hand I am very much looking forward to leading these classes, but at the same time I admit that I am keeping my enthusiasm in check.
In my opinion there is a tendency among some authors and televised pastors to encourage people to "pray big".
The idea being that since nothing is impossible for God we should not sell Him short and pray for things well beyond our needs or wants.
But prayer is far more than simply asking God for things we want or would like to have.
Prayer is one of the most effective ways in which we develop and strengthen our relationship with God.
To be completely honest, God knows what we need even before we are aware of it.
Matthew 6:8 (NET) - Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
I think we would do well to heed the examples Jesus gave us when it comes to payer.
On one hand, He told us how not to pray.
Luke 18:11 (NET) - The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortioners, unrighteous people, adulterers - or even like this tax collector.
A short time later, He told us a better way.
Luke 18:13 (NET) - The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!
His disciples had the right idea when they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.
And Jesus did just that.
The prayer that He taught them we now call the Lord's Prayer.
We can pray as some suggest and "pray big".
Or, we can pray the way Jesus taught us to pray.
If you decide to "pray big" anyway, be careful.
You just might get exactly what you prayed for.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com
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