Friends, thanks again for taking time to practice praying. Like our last post, this is designed so you can worship and practice praying either by yourself or with family members or a small group.
There are two things I am helping you to reflect on in these exercises.
- I’m helping you to think of prayer as a place to grow in the two Great Commandments Jesus talks about: Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Two, I’m helping you to think about asking in prayer (for healing, forgiveness, help, etc.)
Alright, let’s go for it!
First
Watch this video with the song and lyrics video from Josh Garrels’ “Closer Than a Brother.”
Second
Read Romans 8:26-27, 37-38, which means chapter 8, verses 26 to 27 and verses 37-38
A guy by the name of Paul writes to people in Ancient Rome who were struggling with many things, but apparently one thing was knowing what or how to pray.
Next
Here’s the bigger exercise for this time: Reword the Lord’s Prayer (from Matthew 6:9-13) by either writing it down or discussing with family members, or both.
- What are other ways could you say, “Our Father who art in heaven”? For example, God, You are beyond us and above us. Thank you.
- What about “hallowed be Your name”? That’s a tricky one! Hint: Jesus’s ancestors thought God had a specific name dating back to an ancient story when God said to a guy by the name of Moses, My Name is I AM WHO I AM.
- And “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? What are different words from our time for kingdom?
- “Give us this day our daily bread”?
- “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”?
- “Lead us not into temptation”?
- “Deliver us from evil”?
Now
Discuss with family members this question: What does Jesus ask for in the prayer? How does he ask? Hint: Pay attention to what he thinks about and says in his prayer before he asks for anything, and what does he ask/hope for first?
We’re in the home stretch. Watch this cool video about sunflowers and light: