When you pray...

 here's how 😊

Verse for the week: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3.19c

Prayer for the week:  Dear Lord, the sacrifice acceptable to you is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.  Now teach me this Lord, for I cannot learn it on my own. I ask this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Bible reading for the day:  Matthew 6.7-15  (note: During one of his more famous sermons, Jesus gives us the gold standard, the model, for how he wants us to pray to our heavenly Father.)

 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread,
¹² and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.

¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method*):  Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for teaching us to call on you in prayer. You are the reliable one, not me. So, deliver me constantly from the empty phrases of my self and place me squarely in your loving care… for you already know exactly what I truly need; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26rq0spuLao

“Our Father who art in heaven”

What does this mean? Here God encourages to believe that he is truly our Father, and that we are truly his children, so we may boldly and confidently pray to him, just as beloved children speak to their dear father. (from “The Small Catechism” by Martin Luther)

Benediction: “May the Lord have mercy on you, according to his steadfast love; according to his abundant mercy may he blot out your transgressions.”  Psalm 51.1

 

*The T.R.I.P. approach to prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray.  It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria, MN www.dailytext.com).  The method is founded on scripture and easy to remember:

T: thanksgiving

R: regret (repentance)

I: intercession (asking God to take a specific action)

P: plan or purpose

Reading a biblical text and then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to God.