Teach us to Pray

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Matthew 6:5-15 NIV
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.“This, then, is how you should 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.’

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

When we pray we should not ask for things that we want but what our Father desires. How do we know what He desires? By searching His word and asking Him to reveal it to us.

2 Samuel 14:14 NIV
Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.

The desire of God's heart is for us to be with Him through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He created us in His image and He desires fellowship with us, just as a parent desires fellowship with their children.

James 1:19-21
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 

James 5:16 NIV

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 

Galatians 5:22-26 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. 

I want my prayers to line up with God's desires and I am searching the scriptures. I know I am far from perfect but James tells us that Elijah was just like us and God answered his prayers.

James 5:17-18 NIV

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

 

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Emily just posted on her blog that she received news yesterday that the leukemia is back and will be discussing futher treatment with her doctor on Monday. Her spirits are pretty down and she is really in need of prayer. Please hold her up in prayer. She is such a trooper and for a 16 year old the faith she holds in the Lord is amazing.

This is a good time for us to learn how to pray. Dear Father teach us to pray in alignment with Your desires not ours. Show us Your heart Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
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