UNDAILY Episode 164
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “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. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
MATTHEW 6, 7-15 (NIV)
Prayer. What is prayer? Surely each of us has our own definition, our own experiences, and struggles. We can say that it is a conversation of our soul with God, full of deep confessions. It can be attentive silence in the presence of the Creator, giving Him glory and thanksgiving. Sometimes it is our cry for help, and sometimes even complaints when life seems to throw challenges at us that we cannot overcome.
But have we ever considered that we might be treating prayer as a tool to manipulate God? "Lord God, please make my boss change his mind!" "God, if I win the lottery, I promise to be a better person!" Does that sound familiar? Well, it might be funny, but there's something terrifyingly true about it. We try to convince God to act according to our expectations, as if we ourselves know better what is good for us (...)
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