If we accept that spiritual life is life with God at the center, then we need to be diligent about how we move to make that our reality.  To have God at the center of our life means that we are in communion with God, connected to Him. When we come into a tangible relationship with God, the only place He can be in our life is in the center. Prayer is the path to communion. There are many kinds of prayer: devotional prayer, intercessory prayer, prayers of petition. 

Years ago our Pastor, Larry Lea, taught us to pray using the Lord’s Prayer as a model, an outline. I want to share this with you because praying in this way will help you to increase your communion, your relationship with God. 

Remember that you are praying to cultivate your connection with God, to share with Him your heart, and to hear His heart. There is no place for recitation or scripts here. Use the outline, but let it flow from your spirit. Listening is as important as speaking.

1. The scriptures are in bold type. You may have them committed to memory but pray them out loud, speaking to God.
2. Then, use the italics as suggestions, “ice breakers”. Follow your heart and spirit, using your own words.
3. Remember that you are after communication and connection. Listening is as important or more important than speaking.
4. If you pray out loud, it will be easier to discern your voice from His.
5. Find a quiet place, preferably at the beginning of your day and just as Jesus said, Pray this way:

Mat 6:9  .. Our Father, who is in Heaven, Hallowed by Your name.

• Oh God, oh Father, You are the Most Holy (exalted, worthy of complete devotion) One.
• God you are omniscient (complete awareness, knowledge).
• You are omnipotent (almighty).
• You God are omnipresent (present everywhere at one time).
• I praise you and worship you God, Almighty God.

Mat 6:10 Your Kingdon come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

• God, today I say not my will, but Your will be done: for myself, my family, and in all facets of my life. I pray for Your will to be done and Your Kingdom to come.
• Please show me Your will for my life so that I can pray for it, and be in concert with You.
• For my  (work, school, community, state, nation, world) God I pray for Your will to be done.
• For my enemies and adversaries Lord I bless those that curse me, and I pray for those who use me. Bless them Lord.
• God open my eyes to see what You see. Illuminate my vision and my hearing so that I can embrace what You are doing in me, and around me.

Remember to be listening, not just speaking.

Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread;

• God I know that You are my provider. Help me to be content with Your provision today, and to trust You for all my needs.
• Lord, please tell me what my real needs are. What are the things that I don’t know to ask for?
• Have You made provision for me that I’m not seeing?
• Am I asking for things that You, by Your wisdom and love, are not wanting for me?
• Please change my mind, and teach me to be content in You.
• If I’m going one way, and You have a different way for me God, please show me, close those wrong doors, speak to me, help me.

Mat 6:12 and forgive us our debt as we also forgive our debtors.

• God please forgive me of my sins. I am so sorry for the things that I have done ________________________ that are not pleasing to You. I am so grateful that You are a God that forgives.
• I choose today to forgive all those who have sinned against me.  Including  _____________________  who have slandered me, injured me, gossiped about me, or stolen from me, undermined me or ________________ …. I forgive them Lord.
• If I come up short on this today Lord, please help me to walk in forgiveness continuously.

Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever.Amen.

• Today God please order my steps according to Your will and Your ways. God please put Your words in my mouth. Help me to see what You see, in  people, in circumstances, in others.
• You God, from whom no secrets are hidden, please deliver me from temptation and line up my thinking with Your thoughts.
• Line up my feelings with You and what You are are doing.
• Please put Your shield of protection around me/us and keep our enemies at bay.
• You can do this because You are Almighty God, Creator and Ruler of the universe.
• It is to You that all glory goes God. Help me to magnify Your Holy Name.
• Thank  you God that you are Almightly God. Amen

Remember, God already knows what you think. If you engage Him, and you listen to Him, you can know what He thinks, what He sees.  He will speak to you and you will be changed.

 

If you are changed, if you are transformed by God, others around you will be as well.

(All scriptures are from the New Living Translation, and no, I do not know how to create a footnote or end note in Wordpress.)