Yes, we pray. We even kneel, bow our head or raise our hands towards heaven. Yet, our prayers are still unanswered. You may ask why. Why? Oftentimes when our prayers are unanswered, we tend to blame God. Then, we become frustrated, angry or even get discourage about our life. But, to feel this way is a form of selfishness. Why do we pray? Is it because we want God to answer all our needs and to satisfy our worldly pleasures? Think again.
In Matthew 6: 9-13; Jesus taught us how to pray- not to repeat his own prayers at all times. These scriptures are not man's prayers but the "Lord"s Prayer'. Jesus Christ gave us a guide or a pattern for our daily prayers. Surely, God knows our heart and our thoughts (Psalm 139:4) “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord”. However, God wants us to communicate to Him. Pouring ourselves to God is a sign that we totally surrender our life towards Him.
The Lord's Prayer is not a formula but a pattern, indeed. It was taught as a replica of what will be the content and the full scope during our conversations with God. Take note as well that he use “us” throughout this prayer. That our prayer should not be selfish or self-focus, personal but not self-centered.
When you pray, follow the pattern or you can start by- ACTS.
A- Adoration
It is to acknowledge God that He is the one you call. The Sovereign, the Lord and
God of all the things in Heaven and on Earth. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus used “Our Father” as to address His father in heaven. In Galatians 4:7; “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir”. So we are no longer slaves but a son and daughters of God and this scripture reminds us that we have an opportunity to call God as “Our Father” as well. First, we should address and praise God of how holy, amazing, awesome and powerful He is. Prayer is not just begging God for something that we want to manifest in our life but also a time to worship, praise and devotion towards everything that he has done and accomplished. Have also a confidence that He can give you the desires of your heart.
C- Confession
Of course, we are sinners. Nobody is perfect. However, God wants to hear from us that we are sorry for all our transgressions and we are willing to forgive those who ask forgiveness from us. Confession is also a time of repentance and a time to heal ones heart.
T- Thanksgiving
Just breathing and staying alive everyday is one way to thanks God. There are many things in our life that we need to be grateful and thankful of what He has done. There are still many things on earth to thankful about despite of.
S- Supplications
This is the time where we may present our request to God, express ourselves and pour our hearts towards him.
Our prayer should be heartfelt, sincere and with respect towards God. God doesn't measure how fluent and superfluous words we're going to use. But, the content and the conditions of our heart. In 1 John 5:14; “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what asked of him”.
