A Prayer Regarding the Spiritual Discipline of Prayer.
Rev Stuart Irvin, February 2024.
Looking at the topic of prayer we have been able to reflect up on Matthew 6:6-15 where Jesus instructs us how to pray and leaves us with the words that we commonly know as ‘The Lord’s Prayer’.
As a preacher and pastor my message, and heart is that people might be liberated to ‘try it’ with prayer. Whether that is for the first time, getting back on track, or taking our prayer life deeper than ever before.
What better place to start than the life and pattern of prayer that Jesus calls us to. “When you pray…”
So here is a prayer that I hope will lead us closer into that:
Lord, I thank you for the liberating assurance that I can enter into your very presence in prayer; bringing all my concerns, hopes and aspirations. Lord, guard me from any self -righteous ways of praying. Rather, lead me to a contented place of privacy in prayer. Keep me from rambling words and lead me in the reassurance that you know my needs.
With this Lord I pray that I might meditate upon how I can come before you in adoration and anticipation; trusting in your provision, salvation and redemption hope as I 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.
Amen