'Teach Us How to Pray' (Episode 8)

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 eight and final episode of this poem…

'Teach Us How to Pray' (Episode 8)

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’

We are to pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation’

May the Lord spare us from tempting situations

Or give us grace to resist sin’s alluring call

‘Deliver us from evil’; help us when we fall

Before you close your tired eyes to sleep tonight

Say a word of prayer before you turn off the lights

Do not save your prayers for desperate situations

But commune daily with your Father in heaven

TO BE CONTINUED...

Points for Reflection:

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

(Matthew 6:13 ESV)

·         Take a moment to reflect on the areas of temptation in your life.

·         Are you overwhelmed with guilt over your failures to resist temptations?

·         Or have you become so calloused and immune to temptations that they have become just another part of your life?

·         If you relate to the former, do not despair but bring your struggles to God in prayer and repent.

·         God will not hold past sins against you so do not look back but look forward.

·         Share your burden with a fellow Christian who will pray and support you in your combat against sin.

·         However, if you relate to the former, then this is a timely wake up call for you to repent and turn back to God.