Prayer

In Luke 11 one of Jesus disciples ask of Him “Lord teach us to pray”. This request would seem somewhat odd coming from someone,  who more than likely had spent a life time surrounded by religious customs. What follows is probably the best known prayer and most repeated in the christian world. The Lord’s example of  how to pray is important for not only what it says, but also for what it doesn’t.

Psalm 100:4 “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name”.

The Lord’s prayer begins and ends with praise(Matt 6:13) which is essential to communicate your request. It is important to realize that Jesus did not instruct this disciple or those at the sermon on the mountain, that prayer has to be done with a bowed head or closed eyes, or kneel-ed,  or facing the east or any other custom many are bound by. Prayer doesn’t need to be a corporate activity or public one (Matt.6:5,6) and for those who think our country is doomed because of the prohibition of prayer in schools I have a question. How can the government stop me or anyone else from praying the way Jesus instructed?