'Teach Us How to Pray' (Episode 7)

Hello All,

The part of the poem that we will be emphasising on today is highlighted in blue. The black colour text in the poem is a recap of what we have already done last week.

Let us now continue with the seventh episode of this poem…

'Teach Us How to Pray' (Episode 7)

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (February 12, 2015)

When was the last time you knelt down humbly to pray?

Was it this morning, yesterday or last Sunday?

Was it last week, last month or a few years ago?

Or only when you are face to face with a foe?

Prayer is not as complicated as it seems

It is sharing with God our feelings, needs and dreams

It is responding to our Lord with thanksgiving

As we look forward to the coming of the King

The Lord Jesus Himself showed us how we should pray

The Lord’s Prayer guides us when we don’t know what to say

It reminds us of our dependence on Jesus

To love, strengthen, encourage and provide for us

The Lord’s Prayer begins with, 'Our Father in heaven’

Which helps us to address the God of creation

As, 'our Father', who is sovereign and yet loving

To those He has called, 'Children of the King of kings’

'Hallowed be Your name,’ hearkens us to treat God’s name

With the highest honour, reverence and acclaim

We are not to profane the name of God Almighty

For His sacred name is set apart as holy

'Your kingdom come,’ calls God’s people to work and pray

For the advance of God’s kingdom on earth each day

Christ reigns in the hearts of Christians who show His love

In their lives, to glorify their Father above

'Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’

Tells of God’s will for the conduct of His servants

That is pleasing to Him as revealed clearly

In Scripture that guides our path and choices daily

It also tells us of God's sovereign will

That nothing can thwart, for He will fulfill

Every promise in His good and perfect timing

We need not worry for He'll take care of all things

We are to pray, 'Give us this day our daily bread’

For daily provisions, we need not be afraid

Let us bring to God all of our anxieties

For He will sustain us in life’s rocky journey

‘Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors’

Since God has forgiven us through Christ, our Saviour

Let us come before the Lord to confess our sins

With confidence that he will cleanse us from within

If God has forgiven our sins, why do we still

Harbour unforgiveness against others until

We are so consumed with hatred? This should not be!

Christ said, ‘If you don’t forgive, I’ll not forgive thee’

TO BE CONTINUED...

Points for Reflection:

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

(Matthew 6:12 ESV)

·         Forgiving is not easy; especially when the offence is great.

·         However, if we have truly understood the depth of our sin and how God has graciously forgiven us through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, we should be seeking to forgive those who have hurt us deeply.

·         Forgiving others may not happen overnight which is why we should be crying out to God to help us to forgive others as He has forgiven us.

·         Are there people you find hard to forgive?

·         Do not let unforgiveness be the seed that germinates into bitterness but commit the offender(s) to God in prayer.