In every stage of history, and at every stage of our individual lives, prayer is crucial. So to know how to pray is an essential knowledge for every believer. E.M. Bounds wrote: "What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use - men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men - men of prayer." There is nothing wrong with better methods - times are always changing - but the Lord moves through praying people. The Christian prays to God as "our Father in heaven," who cares for us. The Bible says that we who have believed in Christ receive the Spirit of sonship and we cry out to God, "Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:15). Fatherhood means intimacy, compassion, accessibility, closeness, protection, and wisdom. Prayer must be rightly understood. Many false religions emphasize prayer, and speak of the spiritual side of life. In the West, with our atheism and denial of the spiritual realm, we have sometimes applauded any faith in the existence of spiritual beings, regardless of the source. We should be wary and not assume that all who pray to any "god" or "spirit" are praying rightly. Today we are examining the Lord's Prayer that he taught his disciples to pray - not by mindless repetition but as a guide to prayer. May God bless you as you reach out to him as our Father and as your Father. Pastor David Packer
