Jan. 1 - Happy New Year

Well this morning I began 2007 with a month of early morning prayer. Though I woke up this morning with a bit of a chest cold, I pressed on into the prayer closet and had a good prayer time. Of course my standard methodology is praying through the model prayer in Matthew 6. This method that Jesus taught His disciples over 2000 years ago still seems to work today! Andrew Murray said in his classic book "With Christ in the School of Prayer", "Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray". That statement sums up quite allot for me. Once we get "dialed in" to a consistent and persistent prayer life, everything else seems to follow.
Here's how the prayer seems the break down.

1. "Our Father in heaven" - Begin your prayer time with a recognition of His fatherhood in your life. Connect with God not as an illusive mystical being but your heavenly Father. Romans 8:15 teaches us that we have been adopted into the family of God and we can cry out "Abba, Father".
2. "Hallowed be Thy Name" - Jesus was teaching us that we gain personal and intimate access to our Father by the inroad of Praise. David also taught us this in Psalm 100 when he said, "I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise."
3. "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done" - Daily submission to the government of God in your life is a "must". Without yielding your life to Him, He cannot rightfully work within your life His will and plan. Remember, salvation involves Lordship.
4. "Give us this day our daily bread" - God cares about that which concerns you. He wants us to share our needs with Him. Though he already knows, His desire is to personally connect with you concerning that which concerns you.
5. "Forgive us our trespasses" - This is the only portion of the model prayer that Jesus felt the need to rehearse the importance of. Why? Matt. 6:14 teaches that unforgiveness hinders God's capacity to forgive you. Without forgiveness, we're separated from fellowship with our God.
6. "Lead us not into temptation" - Jesus is teaching us to take a stand at the place of prayer against the temptations of this world. Better here at the place of prayer than out in the world unprepared for the evil ones malicious onslaught. This way, you are battling the enemy on your territory rather than his.
7. "For Yours is the kingdom..." - Finish out your prayer time the way you started...With praise and thanksgiving!

Well there's my quicky version of the teaching of Jesus. It worked well for me this morning! Remember, it's not a vain repetition but an outline.

Some personal thoughts...
I had to apply what I preached yesterday to myself this morning! Funny how that works.
Sundays Takeaway was this: "It should be our reasonable and abiding expectation that our Father God will take good care of us!"
Expectation is the first preparation directive in "Preparing Our Chariot" for the abundance of God.
Expectation should always lead to action. What actions are you working on in light of your expectation that God will take good care of you? just a thought...

Suggested Reading:
Proverbs 1
The Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5,6,7

Quote of the day - Andrew Murray - "Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray."

blessings,
Sam Walker