Hollow prayers are the easiest prayers to pray, we say them in passing and without thought sometimes we are so empty we mumble our thoughts and deeds before God our creator without care.
I find it interesting though that when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray,He taught them the most dangerous prayer we could pray.
Matthew 6.7-15. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,and forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
1) Jesus warns against empty prayer the very thing we do today.
2) He says call on your Heavenly Father , this is to be intimate, we are not.
3) Hallowed be thy name, God alone is Holy we should be reverent
4) Your kingdom come , We ask God to rule in us but hold back ourselves and say far enough.
5) your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, wow God's will is not want we always want, it can encompass every aspect of us including unpleasant growing pains, and suffering look at the very life of Jesus.
6) give us this day our daily bread ,we are asking God take care of me today and let's not think about tomorrow
7) lead us not into temptations, we really don't mind temptations they give our flesh an easy excuse to sin against God.
8) forgive us as we forgive others, that is the punch to the gut that drops us, we hold things against others and are unforgiving, may God forgive us far more than we forgive others.
When we pray dangerous prayers, we are surrendering our lives to the almighty God, creator of the universe, we are saying my life is in your hands, your amazing grace is sufficient for me and whatever comes my way it is well with my soul.
We don't see God's power like the early church did because we do not plug into God by praying these dangerous prayers, we are soft and take the road of least resistance.
It is time we pray personally and corporately dangerous prayers.
May God help us all.
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