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June 1, 2003 Prayer has always been an on-going vague description on how to pray especially when you see so many religions giving prayer to so many different formats. This specially came to mind after we watched the movie “Bruce Almighty”. By the way, I loved it and laughed a lot. You have to accept some outrageous tones but it was funny! Though it was light hearted and somewhat liberal in the perception of GOD but, it did raise the issue in my mind. Some people make prayer sound like a duty, or a work that faithful Christians must perform. Some make it sound like we ought to pray several times a day, or three times a day, or all night long, or rise before dawn, or spend at least two hours every day, following the example of this or that famous person. This above statement came from an Article I read from an organization called wcg.org. And I agreed with what I read in that I think most people – including myself—have missed the point and clarification of prayer. After all, prayers are requests. So, I broke down this article below and made my comments as follows. There are no biblical requirements for us to pray at certain times or in certain ways. It does stipulate that we are to follow Jesus’ example in life but not necessarily praying all night, or Daniel’s example of facing Jerusalem. The article brings to point we are not told to pray for specific amounts of time, but all the time (1 Thess. 5:17; Eph. 6:18). We are not told to kneel or stand or lie on the floor when we pray. Rather, we are told to do everything while praying (Phil. 4:6). Prayer is, in its simplest sense, a request. The most common Hebrew and Greek words for prayer mean "ask." Whenever we ask God for anything, we are praying—and it is right that we ask. Paul told the Philippians to ask for whatever they wanted (Phil. 4:6). And as in the Movie and real life you won’t always get an answer that you want. However we are to ask God for the things we need, we must seek God’s help. We must depend on him. Prayer is a cry for help. And since our needs never end, our prayers should never cease. It is arrogant for us to think that we can do whatever we want. The only thing we CAN control, as the bible tells us, is our own decisions and response to thought, and actions. To help in our humane senses is to ponder and remember that the universe exists only because Christ is upholding it by the word of his power (Heb. 1:3). We exist only because our Creator supplies our needs (Acts 14:17). We should realize that needs and desires should be shared with God in prayer (Phil. 4:6). Thankfully, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, especially when we are too unthinking to ask for ourselves (Rom. 8:26-27). The Holy Spirit stands in the gap and helps us in ways that we do not know. This is ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT to remember! The Holy Spirit is our tool to everything peaceful, wisdom, and thought provoking Idea we can have – when it comes to good. In my life it has been such an experience that when I stopped praying and talking with GOD our Father that not only did my misery begin but, wisdom began to leave me and then the bad decisions and judgments caused me and my family GREAT harm. So I say to you what ever religion you are we need to pray. We will be happier, less stressed, more fulfilled, if we keep in mind that we live in the presence of God, that in him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28), and to continually give thanks to God in our prayers (1 Thess. 5:17-18). This does not mean that prayer is just a means of talking to ourselves, or of reminding ourselves of abstract truths. No, Scripture assures us that prayer is a genuine conversation with God. Our requests really do go to heaven, and are really heard and answered by God. Our thanks really go to God; we must see him in the picture. Often, it is in prayer that God speaks to us, when we grow in our understanding of what he wants us to think or do. We all need help. We all need prayer. ------------ About the author: Jaime Furlong has been in Aeronautics for 3 years and in the Automotive for 10, as well as serving in the Navy for 10 years. Has kids and is actively involved in youth organizations. Email Jaime Furlong: jfuschem2000@yahoo.com Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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