some have problems when it comes to prayer…

matthew 6.9-13 (niv), our FATHER in heaven, hallowed be YOUr name, YOUr kingdom come, YOUr will be done on earth as it is in heaven. give us today our daily bread. forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. for YOUrs is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. amen.

now, customarily in a church this is called the LORD’s prayer.  really it ought to be called the student’s prayer because HE intended it for HIS students  –  for you and me.

now I believe that most of us have problems when it comes to prayer.  we have a “who” problem.  we get confused about the nature of the person to whom we’re praying.  people think about GOD being angry with them or disappointed in them.  this “who” problem can keep us from mastering prayer.

then there’s a “where” problem.  where is GOD located?  often, people think of GOD as being very far away, they think about prayer as something that we have to do to try to get HIS attention because HE’s distant. and the “where” problem keeps us from prayer.

then there’s a “what” problem.  we’re not always sure what we ought to pray about when we do get around to praying.  we’re not sure what GOD might be interested in or what good it does to ask.

these are real basic problems–a who problem, a where problem, and a what problem. so at the start of this prayer, we’re going to look here on the front porch at what JESUS has to say about these three problems  –  who prayer addresses, where HE is, and what we pray about.

just a thought from the front porch…