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The Lord's Prayer

My friend saw a study the other day about how whining was the worse noise possible.  It was more distracting than a buzz saw – even more annoying and distracting than an adult talking that terrible baby talk!  Whining made people not be able to concentrate and make more mistakes more often. 

Any parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, teacher or anyone that has to deal with kids has had one of “those” days.  The days where the kids just WONT STOP WHINING!  By the end of the day, you are at your wits end, your last string and just about to snap!

I mean honestly – there are days where I just need a break from the whining and crying and complaining of my kids, now 3 and 1.  I love my kids and think they are fantastic and wouldn’t trade them for the world, but their whining can really get to you some days.

IT made me think though.  How often do I go to God only with MY problems?  How often do I spend my time in prayer just asking asking asking asking asking – complaining complaining complaining complaining…  God isn’t a genie!  Fortunately, the bible has given us a specific guide on how to pray. 

In Matthew 6- the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray.  His response was in verse 9-13

“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 also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one’”

I am sure that most people have heard of the A.C.T.S. version of prayer.  Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.  The important part of prayer is to first and foremost acknowledge God in his splendor and his glory.

What if your kiddo came up to you and said something like this:

“Mom, you just rock, you are the coolest mom that has ever been here.  Not just because I want something but because you really are, you seem to know what I want when I want it, you have provided for me, you take me to sports and dance and playgroup and just make my life fun.

“Mom, I just want to do what you want me to do- I don’t want to do anything that is going to make you sad because I love you that much.  I know that you are going to provide for me every day and that is just awesome!

“Mom, I know that I haven’t always been the best kid, earlier, I disobeyed you and did something that you always tell me not to do.  I am really truly sorry- and not just sorry because I got caught, but because I know that I shouldn’t have been doing that because I know that if someone was truly sorry for what they did to me, I would forgive them, please forgive me for being a brat sometimes.

“Please help me and guide me, I still need you mommy- I need you to help me know what to do in particular situations and how to act.  Keep me away from the things that don’t show honor and respect for our family and for you because I never want to do anything to hurt you.  I need help in this area right now…  I love you and thanks!”

How cool would that be?  Having someone that GOT it – someone that understands the sacrifices that we have made to get these kids where they are.  Now, think of all the sacrifices that God has made to get us where we are!  Think of all the things that God does for us everyday.  The Lord’s Prayer is a wrote prayer.  It is one that everyone should memorize – it is one that everyone should use.  I never liked wrote prayers because I never really got into them- it was hard to get my heart involved in them.  I learned that as I started re-looking at the Lord’s Prayer, I found that I can add to it and make it special and my own, but follow the example that Jesus set out for us. 

How much more likely are you to actually listen to your kids when you hear them say something like what I wrote above?  Most kids are always going to come and say “Mom, can I have _____________ or do ___________________?”  Most Christian’s prayers are just “Thanks God and help me to do this – let me do this- make this happen- if it is your will….”  These are all great prayers to have, but we also need to remember that God isn’t just a genie sitting there to make our requests come true, He is our creator- HE CREATED US AND THE WORLD!!!!  How cool is that?  Very few times do we actually concentrate and really try to follow Jesus’ example of the Lord’s prayer and really honor God in appreciating his Deity and power.  So I am going to make sure that I start my day off with a great prayer- I can pray short, sweet prayers throughout the day also, but if I start my prayer day properly, then I am in the right way and heart and on the right path to continue to glorify God with my prayers.  

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