For What Do We Pray?

nam-eno · Newbie Joined: Jul 05, 2007 Posts: 77 Status: **Offline**

080112

We are taught that whenever two or more gather together, we will be given for whatever we pray. Do we not see what we do and what we expect of our Lord? Is it right that we should sin and fail to keep His commandments, yet we expect our prayers to be answered? We expect to be given that for which we pray, but in what way do we deserve such grace from our Lord?

We are but children in the presence of God. As children, we have no understanding of our desires, we simply want each fulfilled. Are we truly as children? Perhaps we may found our answer in what we do and for what we pray.

As a child cries for a favorite toy, do we pray only for worldly things? As a child throws a tantrum and stomps the floor, and expects their behavior to result in being given their way, do we continue to sin and expect answers to our worldly prayers?

As any parent, God provides for His children. He knows that for everything a child asks it may not be in the best interest of the child to grant. In this wisdom, He will grant to each of us what is needed.

And what should we expect if we are the unruly child? God has love and patience beyond any worldly parent. He grants us love and forgiveness. He grants us mercy and grace, but should we take His blessing for granted? Is it right to be the unruly child, the sinful one in the face of our petitions?

Perhaps we should take a moment to assess our behavior in the light of His world and that for which we pray. Does it mean that if we are sinful we should hide from our Lord and not extend our prayers? No, our soul depends on exactly the opposite.

We cannot hide from our Lord, He knows our every presence, our every action, our every inaction, our every sin. It is in prayer that we express regret for our sins, that we ask for forgiveness. It is in prayer that we become closer to God. It is in His presence that we turn from the darkness. It is through prayer that we invite the presence of God. It is in the presence of the Lord we find salvation.

And how should we pray? Jesus taught us that we should pray first to acknowledge our Father in heaven and the holiness of the Father and His kingdom. We should pray for the will of God be done in the world as it is in heaven. We should pray that God provides for our daily sustenance and for the forgiveness of our sins. We should ask for protection from the evil one and all the evil that abound about us so that we are able to turn from sin and abide in the light of the Lord.

In our prayer, we should first acknowledge the power and greatness of the Lord in our lives, but most importantly the importance of the mercy of God to our souls. As He is our all powerful Lord, we should give Him thanks and praise.

If we acknowledge His will in our prayer, we acknowledge His wisdom to provide for that which we need. Yes, we need sustenance for our existence in this world, but it is not for our physical presence we should be concerned, it is for our soul.

Think for a moment, we might pray for the cure of ailments and diseases of our body or that of a loved one. Though God may grant our prayer, it is only respite for a fleeting moment. It is more powerful to pray that God cures the ailments and diseases of our souls and those of our neighbors and loved ones. As God heals our souls, He heals not just a passing moment, He heals us that we may have eternal life with God in His kingdom. As a child draws near to seek the protection of a parent, we should draw near to our Lord in prayer. The closer we are to God, the further we are from eternal darkness.

Dear Lord, You are my savior, the healer of my soul. It is You that truly provides for me. It is the guidance to Your will that I seek. I am thankful for what you provide to sustain me. I am thankful for Your mercy, Your forgiveness of my shortcomings. I am thankful for what You provide for my family and the community of Your Church.

Dear Lord, I pray that in this existence we learn from Your word so that we all praise You in Your glory. I pray that we learn from Your word such that we are able to live in joy and peace, free from harm and trouble.

Dear Lord, I pray for the souls who have departed this world. I pray that You heal them of whatever ailed them, whatever stained them so that they may join You in perfect harmony. I pray for the souls of my family and all those who come to this world, if even for a few moments within the womb of their mother. I pray that You grant them forgiveness of their sins and guide them to live in Your Word, in peace and love for You and one another.

Dear Lord, I pray for my own soul. I pray for Your presence, that You pull me near, that You grant me the strength to turn from my sins, that I may perform Your will. I pray that You touch my soul with Your grace. Dear Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Dear Mary, Mother of God, I pray that in your closeness to our Lord, that you pray for our souls. Dear Mary, Mother of God, and all the angels and saints, pray for our souls, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Peace be with you,
Nam Eno