“The RoseBouquet”

Jesus doesn’t say, “this is what you should pray,” but rather, “this is how you should pray.” Instead of reciting this whole model prayer as we often do, we should use it as an outline.

This is a very generic model prayer, and if we sincerely mean every line and phrase from the heart, I’m sure it doesn’t harm us to use it. But have you noticed that once we have it memorized and recite it, we tend to have momentary absences as we go over some of the lines? We end up chanting it like the Eastern religions that repeat their mantras over and over.

Sometimes I do pray through it very slowly, trying to be all present and meaning each word or phrase, but a lot of times it works better for me to use it as an outline. To that end, it is good to study and understand what each part is really saying to God. Then I end up praying the same thing in my own words.

1). address our Father in Heaven. Tell Him how holy He is - that is, worship God. 2). Ask, or agree that His reign be extended, and that His will be done on earth just as in Heaven (including in our own life). 3). Ask God for our daily needs (don’t take them for granted; here’s where we make our requests). 4). Ask to be forgiven - with the clear implication that we are also forgiving those who have wronged us. 5). Ask to be kept from trouble (temptation) and to be rescued from Satan, the evil one.

Jesus adds a comment that if we don’t forgive others when they sin against us, the Heavenly Father will not forgive us either. This is a powerfully convicting passage, and many of us stumble at it when we think we simply cannot forgive someone. Still, if we keep even a small root of bitterness in our heart for some wrong done to us, it really will keep us from a healthy relationship with our Father.

PRAYER: Oh Father in Heaven, I do want to worship You and bring earnest requests before You. First, search my heart for any hint of resentment, and help me to forgive others, and myself, so that I can ask and receive all the cleansing and healing that comes with Your greater forgiveness for my sins.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear, falling on my ear…. Ruthe’s Secret Roses, my novel, illustrates that dear song!

That page gives me some interesting feedback. A lot of people love that song simply because a parent or grandparent used to sing it. Do you remember it too?