A reader of a previous post, Brett, wrote:
the deeper question (just because i like seeing if you’ll blog instead of commenting back ) was the Lord’s Prayer given to us as a literal prayer to say regularly, or a model to follow when we pray? hmmm…
I wanted to take the time to write a full response to this. First, I want to remind the reader of my earlier post, Benefits of Recited Prayer, which was about some of the benefits I have discovered in recited prayer.
To speak a little more to the question, I want to start by saying that I have been praying recited prayers daily for the past months. I have been praying the Lord’s Prayer in the morning and a few other prayers, and we have been reciting blessings for food together as a family, etc. This is all new to me. With that said, I have truly found recited prayers to be a blessing. There is much depth and great meditation in these traditional and ancient prayers. I also find that my mind assents with and meditates on these prayers more than with spontaneous prayers. It is similar to reading Scripture where one is able to truly reflect on what is written and direct one’s whole being toward what God is telling us.
This was a preface to answer Brett’s question. My answer is YES.
That is it, just Yes. You see, there are often times that Yeshua leaves things unclear, and I believe this is often because He wants us to not go too far one direction or too far another. For instance, there are many who recite the Lord’s Prayer ritualistically and it is no longer a prayer of the heart. On the other hand, it is possible to ad lib prayer and pray for something that is not really what God desires for one’s life.
Therefore, I think it is important to have a balance. Prayer is a dynamic thing. I truly enjoy the recited prayer and have found great depth in it. But I also have continued more spontaneous and unscripted prayer at the same time. If a person were only to pray the recited prayers, I think they would be lacking, but if there is no looking to the traditions of the Church and of Christ Himself, then I think that person would also be missing out.
So Lord’s Prayer: Recitation, Model, and more…YES.
Filed under: Christianity, Religion | Tagged: Lord's Prayer, prayer, tradition
Love the answer.
I agree that there is much benefit in recited prayers, especially in meditation and focusing our hearts toward the Kingdom. I love the mystery that Yeshua holds, and look forward to spending eternity exploring the depths of that mystery.
brett
thanks for the comment. amen to what you said.
peter