A Morning Cup of Tea: Prayer and Forgiveness

Good morning! I hope you had restful sleep last night. Around here it seems to be one of those topsy turvy days where J wakes early, meaning naptime comes later in the day. 

Today's lesson is Matthew 6:5-`15. In this passage is the model prayer, commonly known as the Lord's prayer.

In the first few verses, 5-8, Jesus tells us how not to pray. He says to avoid being like those who speak loudly in public places when they pray, or those who use vain, repititious words. They are attention seekers and get their reward from what people think of them. We are to pray in private. Does this mean that prayer should not be led in church and other gatherings? Certainly not! During those times all minds should be of one accord. While one is leading the prayer, the others should be praying silently along with them.

The model prayer that Jesus prayed shows us how we should pray. We should come to our Father in heaven reverently. We should pray for the church, which is us, the people. We should ask for our daily needs. We should ask forgiveness of our own sins, and we should ask help in those who sin against us. And we should ask God to help us stay out of temptation. 
 He already knows what we need, yet he wants us to ask. He wants a relationship with us! 
  Once the prayer was over, Jesus reiterated a specific point:
14: For if ye foforgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
  Our goal here on earth is to become more and more like Jesus. We are no more perfect than our neighbor. If we will not forgive them and would rather hold a grudge, why should the Father forgive us?

Good morning! I hope you had restful sleep last night. Around here it seems to be one of those topsy turvy days where J wakes early, meaning naptime comes later in the day. 

Today's lesson is Matthew 6:5-`15. In this passage is the model prayer, commonly known as the Lord's prayer.

In the first few verses, 5-8, Jesus tells us how not to pray. He says to avoid being like those who speak loudly in public places when they pray, or those who use vain, repititious words. They are attention seekers and get their reward from what people think of them. We are to pray in private. Does this mean that prayer should not be led in church and other gatherings? Certainly not! During those times all minds should be of one accord. While one is leading the prayer, the others should be praying silently along with them.

The model prayer that Jesus prayed shows us how we should pray. We should come to our Father in heaven reverently. We should pray for the church, which is us, the people. We should ask for our daily needs. We should ask forgiveness of our own sins, and we should ask help in those who sin against us. And we should ask God to help us stay out of temptation. 
 He already knows what we need, yet he wants us to ask. He wants a relationship with us! 
  Once the prayer was over, Jesus reiterated a specific point:
14: For if ye foforgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
  Our goal here on earth is to become more and more like Jesus. We are no more perfect than our neighbor. If we will not forgive them and would rather hold a grudge, why should the Father forgive us?