Wednesday, August 8, 2012

The Power of PRAYER!

The last couple of day the subject of Prayer has been on my mind so I decided write about it today. I know that Pray is something that can help us all when we are going through a trial or something that is difficult. I know that prayer helps because it has truly helped me in my life.

Prayer is how we communicate with God and it’s the only way we can talk with him, we can’t Facebook him, text, email, give a phone call or even twitter etc. its only by getting on our knees and praying that we are able to talk with God and he talks back when we read and though the holy spirit but those are topics for another day.  Jesus taught us how to pray and also commanded us to pray.  We know this as the Lord’s Prayer it’s found in the bible and the Book of Mormon  found in 3 Nephi 13:9-13.

  9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.10 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.11 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 12 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil 13 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.   So I’m grateful for the Saviors example he teaches how to pray so simply. So we should pray by Addressing our Heavenly Father and the pour out our heart to him, give thanks ask questions and whatever you need to talk to him about and then as Christ taught close in his name. John 16:23   And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Christ also told us not to use vain repetitions 3 Nephi 13 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Now I think of these of just praying to say check off my list for the day and as you pray and finish you have no clue what you just said you were just going through the motions. I was reading a great book that gives the best example of this it’s from the book titled. The Missionary’s little book of Teaching Tools. 

Human: “our Father which art in heaven”
God: Yes?
H: Don’t interrupt me I’m Praying
G: But you called me!
H:  Called you? I didn’t call you I’m Praying. “Our Father which art in heaven”
G: There you did it again.
H: Did what
G: You called me you said” our Father which art in heaven” here I am what’s on your mind?
H: But I didn’t mean anything by it I was you know just saying my prayers for the day  I always say the Lord Pray it makes me feel good kind of like getting  a duty done.
G: Alright go on.
H: “Hallowed be thy name…”
G: Hold it what do you mean by that?
H: It mean… it means good grief … I don’t know what it means how should I know? It’s just part of the prayer. By the way what does it mean?
G: it means Honored, Holy, and Wonderful.
H: Hey that makes sense, I never thought about what Hollowed meant before. “Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
G: Do you really mean that?
H: Sure why not?
G: What are you doing about it?
H: Doing? Nothing, I guess I just think it would be kind of neat if you get control of everything down here like you have it up there.
G: Have I got control of you?
H: well I go to Church.
G: that isn’t what I asked you. What about that habit of gossip you have? And you’re nasty temper? You really got a problem there, you know and then there’s the way you spend your money…  ALL on yourself.
H: STOP PICKING ON ME! I’m just as good as some of the rest of phonies at church.
G: Excuse me. I thought you were Praying for my WILL to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it like you, for example.
H: OH, alright. I guess I do have some hang up’s now that you mention it, I could  probably name some others.
G: SO COULD I!
H: I haven’t thought about it that way very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to be really free.
G: GOOD! Now were getting somewhere. We’ll work together YOU and I. Some victories can truly be won. I’m proud of you!
H: Look, Lord I need to finish up here this is taking a lot longer than it usually does “give us this day, are daily bread.”
G: You should be eating more bread instead of all that junk food you feed yourself with.
H: HEY… wait a minute! What is this “Criticize me” day? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of the sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups. Praying is a dangerous thing you could wind up changed.
G: that’s what I’m trying to get across to you. You called me, and here I am, it’s too late to stop now keep on praying I’m interested in the next part of your prayer… Well go on!
H: I’m scared to
G: Scared?  Of what?
H: I know what you’ll say…
G: Try me and see
H: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”
G: What about Jane?
H: SEE, I knew you would bring her up! Why, she’s told lies about me! Cheated me out of my money! She never paid me back that debt she owes me I’ve sworn to get even with her!
G: But your prayer! What about your prayer?
H: I didn’t mean it.
G: Well at least you’re honest but it’s not much fun carrying that load of bitterness around inside is it?
H: No but I’ll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy have I got some plans for old Jane, she’ll wish she never did me any harm.
G: you won’t feel any better. You’ll feel worse.
Revenge isn’t sweet. Think how unhappy you already are. But I can change all that.
H: You can? HOW?
G: Forgive Jane. Then ill forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be Jane’s problem and not yours. You may lose the money, but you will have settled your own heart.
H: But lord, I can’t forgive her.
G: then I can’t forgive you.
H: OH, you’re right. You always are. And more then I want revenge on Jane I want to be right with you find the right road on life, lord. She’s bound to be awfully miserable now that I think about it. Anyone who goes around doing the things she does to others has to be out of it. Some way, somehow, show her the right way.
G: THERE, NOW! Wonderful! How do you feel?
H: Hmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all. In fact I feel pretty great! You know I don’t think ill have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can because I’m not getting enough rest.
G: you’re not though with you prayer. Go on
H: OH all right. “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us form evil.”
G: Good! Good! I’ll do that. Just don’t put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.
H: what do you mean by that?
G: Change some of your friendships some of you friends are beginning to get to you they’ll have you completely involved in the wrong things before long. Don’t be fooled they advertise they’re having fun, but for you it would be ruin. Don’t use me for your escape hatch.
H: I don’t understand.
G: Sure you do. You’ve done it lots of times. You get caught in a bad situation. You get into trouble and then you come running to me. “Lord, help me out of this mess and i promise I’ll never do it again" you remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me?
H: yes, and I’m sorry Lord. I really am. Up until now I figured that if I just prayed the Lord’s Prayer everyday then I could do out and do what I liked I didn’t expect anything to happen like it did.
G: Go on finish your prayer.
H:  “For thine is the Kingdome, and the power and the glory forever. Amen”
G: Do you know what would bring me glory? What would really make me happy?
H: No, but I’d like to know. I want to please you now. I can see what a mess I’ve made my life. And I can see how neat it would be to really be one of your followers.
G: you just answered the question.
H: I DID?
G: Yes. The thing that would bring me glory is to have people like you truly love me. And I see that happening between us. Now that some of those old sins are exposed and out of the way, well there’s no telling what we can do together.
H: Lord let’s see what we can make of me. OK?
G: YES, Let’s see what we can do!

Brothers and Sister’s I know that prayer works and I know that it help us overcome sin as we TALK WITH God and ask for forgiveness but we need to talk WITH him not TO him. I know that prayer can change our lives because it has changed mine. Now I would like to leave you all with a challenge tonight and for the rest of your life when you pray talk With God and mean everything that you say and I PROMISE that your life will improve and the blessing that are in store for you will be yours!

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