Thursday, June 17, 2010

Matthew 6:8 (Prayer)


Welcome God today with this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (archive). Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers. James 1:22

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8 (full readings)

Rich's comments: I take great comfort in today's selected Bible verse. Sometimes I do not know what to pray for or how to pray. Like a loving parent, God knows what I need better than I do. It might make you wonder though, why do we pray if God knows what we need before we ask Him. I believe that prayer is more for the person praying than it is for God Himself. Prayer places the individual in a position of humility and selflessness. We humble ourselves asking for God's help, because we need Him and we cannot do it on our own. We are selfless in focusing on others' needs before our own when we pray for them. And finally, prayer allows us to have a relationship with God. Lord, thank You for teaching us how to pray. Amen.

Sr. Francelle's devotion: Suffering Now, Glory Later

Faith Challenge: Generously encourage others by forwarding devotions or using the Facebook "invite people" link.
* NEW: Prayer brings families closer together. Schedule a time to routinely pray with your family. I have found that praying with my wife, Erica, is a deeper form of communication than just talking.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, Vatican, American Family Association, Priests for Life
* Reality of abortion (images), #1 cause of death (23% of pregnancies). Expose this unjust peace, setting unborn/parents free.
* NEW: ‘Bayou State’ Scores another Pro-Life Win with Ultrasound Act

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together, and close to God (footnotes). Prayer to end abortion, Peters family (JP).
* NEW: Rich Reich (neighbor George died Tuesday); (cousin Tom undergoing cancer treatment)

Faith Quote: "Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays." ~Søren Kierkegaard

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

1 comment:

PAUL G. said...

There is so much to be said about the Lord's Prayer. Each word is its own catechesis. Just to dwell on "Our Father"! Our God is so Great & so Loving that we can call him Father, Pappa, Abba! What ineffable Love the Father has for us! I can stay there and meditate on that for an hour. Peace be with everyone!

-- Paul