Is God listening to you when you pray a silent prayer?

A lot of churches these days tell their congregations to pray openly and loudly. Certainly this has a place but Jesus also told us to pray when we are alone, in a quiet space!

Core Text:

Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you. (Matthew 6:6 CEV)

Some believers think that they should pray out loud (even if they are alone) in order for God to hear their prayer! Some translations translate the word “κλείω” pronounced “kli'-o” with “Private” (Like in our core verse from the CEV translation). But “κλείω” can also be translated with “Silent” or “quiet”.

Clearly when Jesus said that we should pray privately or silent prayers, He meant that we can pray a silent prayer when we feel it necessary. In the early Church believers prayed together, like in Acts 1:14: These all with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

We find believers in the Bible that chose to pray a silent prayer and other people who prayed out loud together. The point is that we are never alone even when we decide to pray a silent prayer! God is always with us and He always knows our thoughts.

There is no reason that Christians should feel that no one is hearing them. God always hears. He is all seeing and all knowing. Pray and remember you have no reason to feel that you are not heard!

Till next time!

How firm is your faith in prayers? Jesus learnt us to be very firm! - The Lord’s prayer- part 7

Core text:

For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13 MKJV)

This text reminds me of the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9. Here it’s all about God being praised and about His goodness!

This part of the Lord’s Prayer starts by addressing God and then talks about the kingdom of God. This is the end of the Lord’s Prayer. But in the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer we also read about the kingdom of God, then flows the physical needs of the people. This is like “Give us our daily bread” in Matthew 6:11. After that we read about the forgiveness of sins in Matthew 6:12. This is about the brokenness of people and need for forgiveness.

Now at the end of the Lord’s Prayer we read the same words as stated, by Jesus, at the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer. This last part acts as a testimony about God. He is the owner of the kingdom. He is the powerful one and He is almighty. All glory to Him and He will be forever!

It is because of the power of God that He can provide for us. For example the verse that says, “our daily bread” in Matthew 6:11. With the ending of the Lord’s Prayer we tell God that we not only know that He is powerful but that we are certain that He will provide for us on earth.

In other words, it’s all about the firmness of our faith and the Word of God!

Till next time!

Who can test Christians? God or the devil? - Lord’s Prayer part 6

Core verse:

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil. (Matthew 6:13 MKJV)

The word temptation refers to the future. Who can lead Christians into temptation? Can God test us? Or does the devil try to trick us?

Before we start answering these questions, I must point out that this is not a license to commit a sin! Over the years some people thought that only the devil (or evil) one can let us commit sin and then by praying “lead us not into temptation” cleanses a believer from the presence of the devil, (as they understood), which means that no action can be a sin because the devil is not there to make them commit a sin. This is of course not the modern interpretation of the Bible. Jesus said: “Go, and sin no more”. (John 8:11 MKJV)

Who can lead us into temptation?

·         God? “Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one”. (James 1:13 MKJV) God doesn’t test us!

·         The devil? Yes, “The devil said, "If you are God's Son, jump off. The Scriptures say: 'God will give his angels orders about you. They will catch you in their arms, and you won't hurt your feet on the stones.' “Jesus answered, "The Scriptures also say, 'Don't try to test the Lord your God!' “(Matthew 4:6-7 CEV). The devil has a reputation to tempt people.

Pray with me:

Lord, lead me in such a way that I don’t walk into the traps that the devil prepared for me. Teach me your will so that I can avoid the devil and all evil. Help me that I can withstand the tests of the devil.

Till next time!

Must Christians do something to be forgiven by God? Like forgiving others?

Core verse:

“…and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors”. (Matthew 6:12 MKJV)

 Why should we ask for forgiveness of sins? Why is it important to ask for forgiveness? Why should we forgive others, including our enemies?

In our previous post we discussed how God will provide for believers! Jesus taught us to pray: ““…and forgive us our debts” and right after that He prayed: “give us our daily bread”! The “debts” in this case the sins refer to the sins of a person. This is probably no coincidence. Jesus is recognizing the needs of the flesh as well as the needs of the spirit. The needs of the flesh are food, daily. The needs for the spirit are the forgiveness of God, as Jesus said in Luke 4:4:

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God." (Luke 4:4 MKJV)

By praying the Lord’s Prayer and the core verse we recognize that we are accountable for our sins and that we, alone, can’t pay for it ourselves! That is why we need Jesus! He paid the ultimate price on the cross and because of that our sins can be forgiven! But first we must recognize that we have sinned and that we need Jesus for forgiveness!

There is a second part in our core verse. That is “as we also forgive our debtors”. In other words that is that we should forgive other people that wronged or sinned against us! I must point out at this stage that you can only be saved through Christ: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus“(Romans 8:1 MKJV). You cannot be saved by doing deeds! That includes forgiving others, as forgiving others is also a deed. The forgiveness of others cannot be a requirement for sins being forgiven by God. Jesus paid the ultimate price.

The “as we also forgive our debtors” rather refers to the relationship you have with others.  Jesus said: “and (love) your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27 MKJV). Christians should love everyone as him or herself, even your enemies. How can you love your enemies in this way if you don’t forgive them?

Pray, always, that God will forgive you and always forgive others in order to try and keep at peace with them!

Till next time!

How Jesus taught us to pray- Lord’s Prayer part 4

Give us this day our daily bread; (Matthew 6:11 MKJV)

In Matthew 6:10 (given above in italics) Jesus is confessing that He is dependent on God. This is how He taught His followers to pray- we should also confess that we are dependent on God. Why is it important to confess that we are dependent on God? The following verse can give us a glimpse why it is important:

Every good and true thing is given to us from heaven, coming from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change or any shade made by turning. (James 1:17 BBE)

The human race may think that they are self-sufficient or self-reliant, but that’s not the Biblical view! Every good thing comes from God! We should acknowledge that God is providing for us in our everyday needs. That is what Jesus is trying to teach His followers.

=> We can pray to God about our everyday needs!

Share your thoughts on how God provided for you!

Till next time.

How Jesus taught us to pray- Lord’s Prayer part 3

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. (Matthew 6:10 MKJV)

In the previous two posts we discussed how Jesus taught us to pray. It was about how Jesus approached a prayer, it was a way that gave all honor to God. Now we continue with the last entry to this part of the Lord’s Prayer. It is still about God and His will.

The last part of Matthew 6:10 are about Gods ground. God’s kingdom is perfect in heaven, but evil in still on Earth. That is why we should pray that God’s will must be done on Earth. This is not for the sake of God. If He wanted His will on Earth He would put it here. I mean God is the almighty one! No, it’s for our sake.

We don’t always know what Gods will is. In fact it is sometimes very possible that we may ask God for things that He doesn't want to give us. In other words we may ask for things that we shouldn't get, for our own sake. God may for example know that something you ask for is not the best for you. God may have better things in store for you. That better things is Gods will. Now God know what is best for you. That is why we should rely on His will and pry that “Your will be done”.

 If we ask for something in prayer and it is not Gods will, then this part of the Lord’s prayer will make up for it. Because in Matthew 6:10 we acknowledge that Gods will is the best for us.

Share your thoughts on Gods will!

Till next time!

How Jesus taught us to pray- Lord’s Prayer part 2

Your kingdom come… (Matthew 6:10 MKJV)

Where is Gods kingdom? Isn't it in heaven and why do Jesus tell us to pray for it? Isn't God just going to establish His kingdom on Earth at the second coming of Jesus?

Christians and churches around the world pray the Lord’s Prayer in different languages. It is probably one of the most prayed prayers around the world. But do you know what it means? Do you know why Jesus included “Your kingdom come” into the- Lord’s Prayer?

The main reason that Jesus included “Your kingdom come” into the Lord’s Prayer is because the Earth is a disputed part of Gods kingdom. You see, evil still exist on Earth and the devil is still busy trying to lure people away from God.  

“Your kingdom come” in the- Lord’s Prayer, means that a believer is transformed into a soldier for God. When we pray the “Your kingdom come” in the- Lord’s Prayer we acknowledge that we are going to oppose the evil in this world and focus on to promote the kingdom of God in this world.

Till next time!

How Jesus taught us to pray- Lord’s prayer part 1

Therefore pray in this way: Our Father, who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (Matthew 6:9 MKJV)

This is how Jesus taught his followers to pray. It can be seen as an example prayer. Everyone can pray it. But sometimes if we say the same prayer over and over it becomes a meaningless string of words that come out of our mouths.

It is of vital importance that the example prayer must stay important to us. We should know what we say or ask for when we pray the example prayer. I mean, if the example that Jesus gave us becomes meaningless, then where can we learn from? In this post and those to follow I am going to talk about the example prayer that Jesus gave us.

Jesus addresses the Lord as “Father”. This was not the normal way of talking to God in the ancient times, as the Jews did not address the Lord as Father! But Jesus is the Son of God and out of that intimate relationship Jesus calls the Lord “Father”.

Christians today also believe that we are children of God. Christians also talk to God as the “Father”. The following may sound familiar: “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost”. It is general knowledge of every Christian that God is also their Father.

But of course that makes Jesus our brother, our next of kin! That is perhaps why some Christians greet each other as brother and sister in Christ.

But God is still holy, “Hallowed be Your name” is the words that Jesus used to talk to God. Even though He is holy, he is still our Father in heaven. He is thus our holy father in heaven; we must still have respect for the Father as God the holy one or God the almighty one.

What can we learn from the first part of the “Lord’s prayer” prayer?

·         God is the father of Jesus.

·         God is the father of his followers.

·         Jesus is our next of kin.

·         But the Godhead is still holy!

We continue with the example prayer next time!

We should pray with confidence!

Core verse for this post:

They don't really pray to me; they just howl in their beds. They have rejected me for Baal and slashed themselves, in the hope that Baal will bless their crops. (Hosea 7:14 CEV)

In our core verse we read about people being sad and having no confidence in the Lord! It’s all about ATTITUDE. In the core verse we see people only complaining about their bad circumstances. They aren’t grateful at all for what the Lord has done for them.

Being not grateful for what the Lord has done for them, they also appointed a different god. They now ALSO pray to Baal- a pagan idol! Their prayers to the Lord God Almighty were the prayers of complaints. In other words, they prayed WASHED OUT prayers!

They didn’t pray with confidence! Now that is an ill-considered way to pray. I mean, how can a washed-out prayer be prayed with confidence? God did so much for His people and they just forgot it all and walked over to a different god. In other words they joined a different faith. That’s bad!

What can we learn from Hosea?

We can learn from Hosea how NOT to pray! We should pray with confidence. We can remind ourselves what God has done in our life or for others- knowing that God will give us His blessing!

Till next time!

Spiritual Praying (Part 2)

Core text

Then what should I do? There are times when I should pray with my spirit, and times when I should pray with my mind. Sometimes I should sing with my spirit, and at other times I should sing with my mind. (1 Corinthians 14:15 CEV)

We read in our core verse that the apostle Paul prayed with his spirit. Christians should also try to do the same!

The previous post was about the spiritual armor of God. I wrote about it in such a fashion that it can be prayed. Prayer should include your mind – in other words thinking in a cognitive perhaps even a religious way. You should not only pray with your mind but also your spirit. This can be applied differently to each praying believer.

We know that before you can pray with your spirit your spiritual side must take over. Consider a car for example, if it is in gear the engine will work. If it is not in a gear the engine wouldn’t work. It is exactly the same with our minds. If our mind is taken out of gear the spiritual side can take over. In other words we should be focused on God and not on things of this world.

This is perhaps why you should be calm when you try to pray with your spirit. Yes- it can take a while for a new believer to learn to pray with his/her spirit but it’s important that we try to.

Till next time!

Spiritual praying

Spiritual praying

Core text

Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people. (Ephesians 6:18 CEV)

Our core text for today originates at the end of the spiritual armor that the apostle Paul described in the letter to the Ephesians. He says: “Never stop praying” linked to the spiritual armor. Now what was that spiritual armor again?

·         Belt:- truth

·         Breastplate:- Gods righteousness

·         Shoes:- go where peace is.

·         Shield:- Faith that stops the attacks from the evil one.

·         Helmet:- the salvation that Christ brought.

·         Sword:- the Word of God.

What does it mean for our prayers? Can it help us?

The belt symbolizes that we have to seek the truth in our religious beliefs. When we pray we cannot lie to God. God knows the truth. The breastplate symbolizes Gods righteousness. When we pray we must remember that God is just and fair. The shoes symbolize the fact that we must go where the evil one cannot get- that is with God. The shield symbolizes a strong faith. If we have a strong faith we will be focused on the Lord.

In prayer we can ask that God must forgive our sins. This is the helmet of salvation of Christ. Christ was crucified on the cross. That brought us the helmet of salvation. The sword is the Word of God. Most Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God. It is possible to pray Bible verses like Psalm 23: “The Lord is my Shepard. Thank you Lord that I will never be in need!”

It is possible to structure our prayers around the spiritual armor of God. It may take a lot of practice to master prayer but these easy steps simplify it a lot.

Till next time!

Can God forget His promises?

The title question is a question that many people are asking! I’m not only talking about Christians, but also other people from other faiths- looking at Christianity. We can find an answer to the question in the Bible. The core Bible verse of this post is from the prophet Isaiah:

“Jerusalem, on your walls I have stationed guards, whose duty it is to speak out day and night, without resting. They must remind the LORD and not let him rest till he makes Jerusalem strong and famous everywhere”. (Isaiah 62:6-7 CEV)

Talking about speaking faith! These guys stood on the high walls of Jerusalem, reminding God of His promises. Long ago God promised the Israelites that He will make Jerusalem a strong city! They were speaking to God out loud. While that is a good thing to do, praying is also speaking to God- just softer.

The Israelites had something to speak to God about. That made their prayers more MEANINGFUL  The background of the core text of this post is that the Israelites were defeated. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. Now they had to rebuild the city. The felt the need for their God and they weren't afraid to remind God of his promises.

What can we learn from the core text?

1.       We can remind God of His promises found in the Bible. After all, God made those promises. He will not forget them!

2.       Speaking to God about His promises makes our prayers more MEANINGFUL!

3.       We should speak to God about our problems- out loud or in our prayers, just like the Israelites and the prophet Isaiah. We should do it in a humble way and not in an arrogant way.

Till next time!