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Wouldn’t it be nice to know how to pray perfectly?
Of course, we know that our prayers aren’t perfect (“we don’t know what God wants us to pray for…” Romans 8:26b NLT). God never asks us to do anything impossible, but that He will personally help us accomplish everything He asks us to do (“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NLT). Therefore we are told that God’s Spirit … translates … our prayers into something perfect in God’s ears: “…but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26c NKJV). Therefore, do we even need to worry about THE perfect prayer?
If you think about our Christian walk, we are constantly being encouraged so strive for excellence. We are forgiven when we don’t achieve that excellence, yes; but we are still encouraged to, “…be holy…” (Leviticus 11:44b NLT). It is interesting to note why we are admonished to be holy… “…because I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44c NLT). Thus, God’s reason for us to strive for excellence is simply because He is holy, and He lives in us: “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself…” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT)
Therefore it stands to reason that even though we don’t know how to pray as we should, even though the Holy Spirit translates our prayers into something beautiful before God, we should at least strive for perfect prayer!
So since we should strive for perfect prayer, just where do we go to find perfect prayer?
God’s Word gives us the answer to this one as well: The Lord’s Prayer! And this perfect prayer holds the power to transforming our less-than-holy lives into holy temples of God!
Wait. You mean that dry, old prayer that everyone has memorized? That rote prayer that we say without understanding and without meaning? The one that simply comes out of our mouths? THAT prayer has power to change our lives? To transform us into holy temples of His Spirit??? You mean that one???
The very one.
But, we’ve all said it a hundred or more times. Why then aren’t our lives changed???
The reason our lives aren't changed is just that: we pray it so automatically that it has lost its meaning to us!
Over the course of the next 11 Saturdays we will be taking a close look at the various parts of this perfect prayer. I challenge each of you to commit to praying this prayer every day throughout this series. Not in a rote fashion; but with meaning. Mediate on each phrase. Ask God to open your heart to the meaning He would speak into your heart. If you will commit to this 11 week challenge, staring today, I guarantee you that your life will be changed, your walk with God will be strengthened, and your relationship with Him will soar to much higher heights.
Please reply to this devotional and let me know you have committed to making this prayer a daily prayer throughout the weeks of this series! Although we haven't started delving into the actual prayer yet, I encourage you to already start this week to pray the Lord's perfect prayer every day. Pray it as a whole. And please join us next Friday for, "Our Father in Heaven: The Perfect Prayer, Part 1"
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
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