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Debts
Posted By Jennifer
I’ve never felt like I was good at the discipline of prayer. Am I doing it right? Am I doing it enough? I am praying for the right things at the right times? This week I was reading in Matthew and came upon these timeless words, but since I had already been pondering prayer before I began reading, they resonated with me:
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.
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 men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:7-15
I have always known for me that amount of time in prayer was not what was important. I’ve had times of prayer that stretched on, and yet still feel scattered and disconnected. What’s important is content–getting to the heart of the matter. As I was reading this, I put down my Bible and went back to prayer, focusing on these areas and asking myself some questions. To whom did I owe forgiveness? For what did I need to seek forgiveness from God? I had a time of confession and soul-searching. I pondered the usage of the word “debt.” A debt is something I owe, because I have not yet completed the requirement. I am told here to forgive that which people owe me–perhaps that is an apology, some promised help that never came through, general kindness. I also began to think of the debts I owe–to God, outstanding sin that I need to uncover and then repent of. But then I thought of my family and my responsibilities: I am in debt to laundry, dishes, de-cluttering. These are things for which my family has to forgive me, almost daily. Taking care of these things is part of my role, and when I am not, I have an outstanding debt.
This is the essence of prayer. Seeking God’s hand in my daily life. Listening. Figuring out what I want or need and asking Him for it. Then most importantly– acting on or committing to that which I’ve been convicted. So, that said, I guess I have some housework to do.
Do you have any prayer tips? Or can you recall a time when you really seemed to hear from God?
Feb 27th, 2007
Great post, Jennifer. I, too, love how Christ boiled prayer down to its essentials and how much we can learn from His brief but powerful example.
For me, one key thing about prayer is to not “wait.” I tend to wait until I have lots of time, or lots of quiet, or lots of focus, but those times might not come every day. So being in an attitude of prayer throughout the day is vital, but also taking advantage of moments all day long when I can connect with God, seek His guidance, recommit my actions and attitudes to Him.
I really needed to read this today. I sometimes feel like Katrina(the previous poster) that I need to wait until I have time to sit down for a “marathon” prayer session…but really just taking time at the moment you need it to send a few words in prayer is better than a well thought out prayer. How easy it is to forget that God already knows our needs, there is no need for us to go on and on!
I enjoyed reading this post! I definitely need to do some housework and I love how you view it. I’m trying to have a better attitude about the housework…I love to have a clean home, but I do not delight in getting it there. My family is very forgiving of my household debt, but I am not so much. As far as prayer goes…I have felt for years that I’m not doing it right. But, finally I came to the conclusion that it is MY conversation with God and it’s ok to do it my way! Thanks for this uplifting post!
When do I pray and how? This for me is a loaded ? My true formal prayer time is against the refridgerater in the kitchen after we have finished the cleaning up the dinner dishes. It is amazing how everyone in the family scoots out of he kitchen after it is cleaned up. I will turn and look and smile that everything is clean. I turn on the dishwsher and turn out the kitchen light. I sink to the floor and relish in the lub dub of the washer and the inner silence. I am always so peaceful when I get up.
I also pray a quick prayer to God when one of my teenagers leaves the house with a friend who just got their drivers license, or when My son goes into the city to a music concert–Breathe Pam breathe–God keep him safe. Thank YOu God in me.
Jennifer,
I wanted to share this poem about “The Penny”
I pray that everyone will find many Pennies along their Christian Journey and the road called Life.
God bless,
Candyce
———————
The Penny
You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I’ve ever heard this twist on the story. Gives you something to think about.
Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband’s employer’s home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband’s employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.
He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.
Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man’s face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?
“Look at it.” He said. “Read what it says.” She read the words ” United States of America ”
“No, not that; read further.”
“One cent?” “No, keep reading.”
“In God we Trust?” “Yes!” “And?”
“And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I ! stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God’s way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!
When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, “In God We Trust,” and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.
It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient…
The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:
1 cross
+ 3 nails
——–
4 given
This is a great post Jennifer!
I try to make sure I have minimal distractions when I pray i.e. my kids are asleep!
What a wonderful post! I agree with everything Laura said!
Thanks for sharing today!
i am sitting at my desk looking at the clock saying I should be signng off the computer and YOU HAVE ME IN TEARS! Thanks for sharing!
Pam