Daily Bread 2-21-17

Matthew 6:8-13

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask of him.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

Amen

ref. - Dt 32:6 - Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he the father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

Matt 23:9 - And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Lk 11:2 - 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.

Lv 10:3 - Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord hath spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Isa 6:3 - And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, i the word of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Ps 103:20 - Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Pr 30:8 - Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me.

Matt 26:41 - Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Jas 1:13 - Let npo man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.

John 17:15 - I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.(James 4:3)

A lot of the reason that we do not receive what God's will is for us is because we are not interested or looking for God's will. We are focused on our own lusts, wants, and desired. This is not the prayer that Christ told us to pray. We are often told to pray always, pray without ceasing, watch and pray, but we are not taught how to pray. Now this does not include personal opinions on how to position your body, where and how loud to pray. It is simple instruction straight from the mouth of Christ and supported by the words of the Holy Prophets and Apostles in reference. We do not need to have a great instructor or someone to coach us on how to pray as we will end up offending in many points what we are taught in the sermon on the Mount(Matthew chapters 5-7). What we do need though is to begin praying in the manner that Christ has instructed us. We sometimes pray like we do not think that God knows our needs, or like we need to fill him in on something. But Christ tells us that we need not to make our prayers long and fancy, nor do we need to include too much information. He also tells us that we do not need to pray so that others can hear us or that we not make a spectacle of our prayers. When it gets right down to it, once again, we can look at this instruction and say, That's way too easy! In that statement we are right. It is way too easy, this is why the word of God says that there is simplicity in Christ. We must give God the reverence and the glory, and ask him to take care of us today. We must ask him that his will be done here on earth just like it already is up there. We must ask him to help us to forgive and be forgiven. We must ask him to give us the strength to turn away when temptation arises. And then believe and give him all the power and honor and glory over our lives and our souls. In this little prayer holds the key to all that God has for us in Jesus Christ. Simple? Of course! He knew us and he loved us enough to give us a way that even the simplest of people, like ourselves, could understand it and have a chance to have his will come alive in each of our lives!! Not only for our lives on this earth, but forever into eternity!!! Now don't forget to pray..............and...............have a great day!!!!