Prayer- Part 1: The Ultimate Prayer

A lot of people wonder, "How am I supposed to pray?" Many people ponder that so if its you, know you're not alone. The disciples of Jesus Christ didn't even know how to pray at first so they asked Him. Then Jesus said what we now know as the Lord's Prayer.

Let's go through that prayer:
Our father (possibly my favorite part. Notice how Jesus says "OUR father" and not my father or God. The name of God wasn't even allowed to be spoken by Jewish people in those days so it really came as a shock to the disciples, I'm sure, when Jesus, a Jew himself, called God father.)

Who art in Heaven hallowed be thy name. (one of my arguments for not taking God's name in vain. If God himself, Jesus, said that God's name is hallowed (holy) then it is. It just is. God is too powerful and too gracious and too mighty and too loving for you to throw around his name saying "Oh my God" all the time. If you say those words it should be out of reverence and in wonder of the mighty God we serve)

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven (Give God your all. You can't control anything. That's the first thing you gotta know. Let His will be done. Jesus points out here that His will is done also in Heaven. Heaven is the greatest place ever so don't you think that if the things He does in Heaven are good then the things He does on Earth are good too?)

Give us this day our daily bread (Blessing of the food. Classic.)

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. (Forgiveness. We're asking God for it. But He will not forgive us until we forgive.)

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil (the word for temptation in the Greek is Peraismos. This word means temptation but also trial and testing. I believe what we're Jesus is trying to say here is God help us with the trials of this life")

So there you go. Use the Lord's Prayer as a frame for the next time you pray and ever other time after that. Jesus taught us how to pray so we can't say we don't know. It's in the Word of God. Everything is there, point-blank. Dive into it.

PRAY

"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."  Matthew 6:9-15

Harmony

"I sing because I'm happy. I sing because I'm free. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me."- His Eye is on the Sparrow

If you know me well you know that I am crazy about one instrument. That instrument is the piano. I have played and taken lessons since I was five so I'd like to say that I'm experienced. The piano is beauty in my life. It's my escape and my friend.

One of the things I've learned in my years playing the piano is that in order to make beautiful music you must know how to harmonize. The notes that you play need to be in the same key or have some sort of connection to each other. If you put together two notes that don't mesh you won't get a pleasing sound.

Maybe you can relate that to your life. Do the things that are in your life plan and that you want to do and you're comfortable and everything sounds good. Do the things that make you uncomfortable and sometimes it ends up badly. You never want to make the same mistake again.

There are these things in music called the major and minor keys. The major keys always sound precise and correct and everything is good with them. The minor keys are a little off. They sound darker. However, some of the most beautiful pieces I have ever played were written in the minor key. I challenge you, play in the minor key. Do things that you think don't sound so great in the beginning and maybe you'll get something beautiful out of it.

God made you for a purpose. Yes he has planned your life but he didn't create you just so you could stay in your little comfort zone. Nobody will ever be reached if we all stay in our comfort zone. Do things that challenge you and let God take you on a journey.

"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise." James 5:13

True Love Waits

"When I fall in love, it will be forever."- When I Fall in Love by Nat King Cole

One of my favorite blogs to read is the one by my dear friend, Carly, about her love story. I always tell her that it makes my heart smile. I love seeing my friends happy. And it's wonderful because I believe that Carly has found true love. Not only with BJ, but with God. By falling so deeply in love with God, she found a remarkable love with BJ.

Carly saw BJ for the first time, as her boyfriend, only a few weeks ago. Her living in Oklahoma and him living in Florida, it's been difficult I know. She has definitely had to wait for her true love.

We always hear the phrase, "True love waits." Usually it's referring to the sexual aspect. That true love waits. True love will come if you wait and stay pure. That is very much true. If you keep your heart and mind pure, God will bring you THE ONE. The one of your dreams. The one who will complete you. The one that you will spend the rest of your life with. There's a way to keep your heart and mind pure. FALL IN LOVE WITH GOD. By falling deeply in love with Him, He will open your mind to the things unseen. He will allow you to love everybody around you. How can you fall in love with the person God wants you to if you don't know how to love people?

So fall in love. Fall in love with God. He will give you the ability to love. But wait. Wait until God is ready to give you your earthly true love. I promise He will.

"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." Song of Solomon 8:4