We have been spending a few weeks focusing on our prayer lives. The first week we looked at the biblical mandate to pray in a manner consistent with the Lord 's Prayer found in Matthew 6 and Luke 11. Honestly listen to yourself the next time you pray. Is the content of your prayer similar to the content found in the Lord 's Prayer? I believe that if the majority of us were to listen to our prayers, we would find that 90% or more of the time is spent praying through prayer requests. Even if most of those requests are intercession for others, we are completely missing the boat for the kind of communion our Lord wants to have with us through prayer.

My goal in sharing this with you is not to challenge your thinking or even to bless your heart. If you read this and say, "Ah, that was good", but then go on with your ineffective prayer life, I have utterly failed. My goal is singular--to help you change the way you pray. Before you can right the ship, you must realize it is going in the wrong direction. Christ commanded, "After this manner therefore pray ye:"

We began by looking at worship. Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. How have you done? Did you take up the challenge to begin every prayer with a time of worship--a time of realizing that you are entering God's throne room, giving Him the honor and glory that is due His name? If you are not taking the time to worship your creator, if you do not realize who it is you are talking to, you might as well pray, "To whom it may concern." Worship in prayer is critical.

That brings us to the next part of the Lord 's Prayer--submission. After we have recognized who God is through worship, the next logical step is to bow the knee in submission to His authority. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. "Lord, let your kingdom, your rule, your reign, your precepts, your system, your way of doing things come. Lord, let your will--your desires be done." Praying for God's will to be done on earth, must begin with praying for God's will to be done in my life. Don't pray, "Lord, let your will come to our president" until you have first prayed "Lord, let your will come to me. Lord, let the desires of your heart be my desires. Lord, let my heart be broken by the things that break your heart. Lord, let my heart find joy in the things that bring you joy."

"Lord, have your own way with me. You are the potter, I am the clay. Lord, I will follow you anywhere-- wherever that path may go. Lord, you don't make mistakes, so I give my life to you for your use and your glory. Lord, send me anywhere, lay any burden on me, sever any tie. Here am I, Lord, send me. Not my will, but thine be done."

When we start praying this way, and God starts touching those areas of our life that we have yet to yield to Him, it is not always comfortable. We may need to set aside pleasures that are keeping us from fulfilling His will. We may need to change relationships. We may need to give up the worldly aspirations we have for ourselves or even our children. But there is no greater joy, no greater fulfillment than living a life of complete surrender to our Lord's will and rule. "God, I want what you want. Let thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Notice that in the first two parts of the Lord's Prayer, we have yet to ask God for anything. We have recognized His greatness and submitted to His authority. Frankly, if this were the only thing we ever prayed, it would take care of most of the problems in our lives. Will you take up the challenge with me this week? Begin your prayer with worship, then spend time submitting your life to God's rule and will. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Bryan Miller, B.A.
Children's Pastor