Art of Prayer

GOOD MORNING; I truly hope everyone is having a wonderful time preparing for Christmas, it should be a happy time. I heard my wife tell someone a couple of days ago that it was almost like a job anymore to get ready for Christmas, she's right in a lot of ways. We put to much on ourselves this time of year, things that on the grand scale don't really matter! That's enough!
In the past few months the Lord has placed on my heart that we need to get back to prayer. I know we all pray before we eat, at church,family gatherings etc... but I mean getting back to a scriptural prayer life, a way of life!
In the modern church I also believe we must see the need to be a praying body of believers, not just at the regular times but a way of life. We need to learn how first!
Mattthew 6:5-8 NIV
5.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
8.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Here we have our Lord give His very instructions on how to pray. After these verses Jesus goes into what we call the "Lord's Prayer" (I think it should be known as the model prayer, the Lord's prayer is in the garden of Gethsemane). Never the less, Jesus Himself gives very clear instructions on how to pray. In later blogs we'll look more into these instructions.
I, along with my wife Ellen are praying about doing a class at Bethlehem MBC in Pauls Valley on prayer. It will be on a week night so if you feel lead we would love to have you. Please pray for us not only in this class but our entire ministry and for Bethlehem where we attend, I truly believe the most loving church anywhere!!!
Remember the key is PRAYER!!!!!!
I close as always; I LOVE YOU AND THE LORD SURELY LOVES YOU!!!!!!

In HIM, Brian F