Walk With Me
Christian discussion of biblical topics, and a dose of daily application. Yes the Bible is still relevant, and we find out more and more each day how relevant it has always been.
Walk With Me
What is Prayer? Breaking through the Mystery to get your breakthrough
What if understanding prayer could transform your spiritual journey? Join us on this enlightening episode as we promise to unravel the simplicity and depth of prayer, transforming it into a meaningful dialogue with the divine. As we celebrate four years of spiritual exploration together, this episode ventures into the heart of prayer, challenging misconceptions and offering insights that could reshape your spiritual conversations. We reflect on questions like "What is prayer?" and "How do we pray?", emphasizing that prayer need not be elaborate to be significant. Dive into scriptural contexts, such as John 9:31, to explore the idea that every voice matters to God, even those burdened by sin.
Our discussion doesn't shy away from the challenges of aligning personal desires with divine will. We navigate the spiritual growth found in accepting God's decisions, even when they diverge from our own hopes. The Lord's Prayer serves as our compass, guiding us through the elements of praise, alignment, and supplication. We emphasize the profound importance of sincere communication and unwavering faith, regardless of how our prayers are answered. This episode is not just a conversation; it's an invitation to deepen your spiritual connection and cultivate a fulfilling prayer life.
Hello everybody and welcome to today's episode of Walk With Me. I am your host, jj. So good to have each and every one of you here. Thank you all so much for listening and sharing. Thank you all. As I adjust my mic here, I hope I'm not blowing out your ears. Thank you all so much Love, each and every one of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Can't thank you enough. Do you guys realize we're coming in on four years? In about three weeks we will be celebrating our fourth year anniversary of this journey, walking towards salvation.
Speaker 1:And I say that because that's what the name of the podcast was. It was Walk With Me on this. It was a little known fact, something little known fact. The reason why we came up with that title was because I used to say that when I have a long thing to talk about and it's going to take me a while to get to the point, I'll say walk with me on this. So that's where this whole thing came out about.
Speaker 1:And, uh, we were most having I was most saying that when talking about biblical things, because sometimes, like we will talk about today the answers that people have, the answers that I have, the answers that you have the answers that a lot of people have. They're not very simple. Sure, the question is simple, like today's question is you know, how should I pray, or what is prayer? But the answer is not a very simple answer. There's various variations to the answer to that question and it just makes sense that sometimes we've got to take a little bit of a journey to get there. That being said, I'm going to send a special shout out to our sponsors, true Bars, lyricist, and his lovely wife, my wife, exquisite Creations, and also to our newest sponsor. Right now. They're still getting things together. I'm still waiting to be able to fully express them, but they are listening, so I am thankful for them. I'm thankful for each and every one of you. Thank you for everyone who is in the United States and outside the United States that listens to this program. Yes, there have been downloads in places I dare not mention because I don't want the government to come after them. Thank you all so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you all so much. I cannot thank you all enough. Thank God for this podcast, thank you for the desire to have this podcast and to make sure that you know we're being. We're getting this word out. Okay, because that's what it's all about.
Speaker 1:A lot of people have questions about the Bible. Some of us were taught incorrectly, some of us are kind of like half taught, and this when you have to use something, you often end up contradicting it. So that's a problem, right? So the big question we have today is what is prayer? How do we pray? Now, if you ask this question to 42 different people, you will probably get 42 different answers and, believe it or not, the answers, even though they think they're different answers, they're going to be remarkably similar. So we're going to talk about, first off, what is prayer, why do we need prayer and how to pray. Now, hopefully, I get all that in one episode, but if not, then we'll carry it over to the next episode.
Speaker 1:Now, so, what is prayer? Okay, prayer, by definition, does not need to be this big thing that sometimes we make it out to be, believe it or not. Prayer is remarkably simple. It is just the simple act of you communicating with God, and it doesn't have to be this big thing. I mean, it can be, because there are different types of prayer and so I don't want to get ahead of myself. So there is a prayer where you can just talk to him exactly the same way I'm talking to each and every one of you. Now, that is a form of prayer. It is also a form of prayer when you go through and you do a consecration. That's also a form of prayer. And then I hear this stuff about corporate prayer, which I'm not a big fan of. But basically corporate prayer is where you're kind of standing in church and I say a thing and then you say the thing right after me, like a lot of people do it during benedictions. I guess you might call that a more kind of a corporate prayer. But the most effective two types of prayer is going to be that direct communication with God, and then the so-called formal prayer.
Speaker 1:Now let's get one thing out of the way really quick. It is said in John 9, 31, that God doesn't hear the prayer of sin. Now, well, yes and no, okay, and the reason why that's the case and the reason why we're talking about that. Oh and, by the way, before I get into that, we do have a rule on this podcast and this is where this rule applies. Listen very carefully, walkers. This is where this rule applies. The reason why we have this rule is because of this right here we hear it all the time God don't hear the prayer of sinners. But if that's not, if that's actually 100% true, then God would not hear you when you repent of your sin. So it is true up to a point where God is not going to be granting all your stuff because you're a sinner. But if you look at John 9 31 and go and read a verse or two above, a verse or two below, but preferably the whole chapter, which is our rule here, you will find out that we sometimes take the scripture out of context when we're talking to people who have not been born again, because here we are talking about this. But that scripture, that one verse, is literally where the guy is recounting how Jesus opened his eyes and why he knew that Jesus was God, because he had to be of God, because he performed this miracle. Now, as beautiful as that miracle was of him opening, getting his eyes open, the more important miracle is the forgiveness of our sins, the fact that we can have our sins wiped away and have our name written in that last life. Now, if God didn't hear you because you were a sinner, then technically he wouldn't hear you if you repented either. So we have to be careful how we use scripture and how we.
Speaker 1:Some people weaponize and I'm I used to be that way weaponized scripture, and this is this doesn't make any sense because the word of God is not a weapon. Yes, I know some of y'all just say well, it's a sharp, two-edged sword. Yes, it is. However, it is not to be used to cut people down, as far as you know, turning them away from God. It's supposed to be cutting their sin off to bring them closer to God. Cut our sin off to bring them closer to God. Cut our sin off to bring us closer to God.
Speaker 1:So this whole thing about making sure that we are talking to God, as far as our repentance prayer which you should do every day, every day, and we're going to talk about why I say that as we get along. So we have that repentance prayer. That's one type of prayer. Then we have the casual, what I call the casual prayer. That prayer is more of the same way you would talk to your friend, a very close friend. You tell them things. You say, hey, this is the thing where. And that prayer is more along the lines of, hey, god, you know, I really just thank you for being who you are. I love you, and the same thing you would do Now, the reason why you want to do those prayers.
Speaker 1:A prayer in that way is sort of maintains an open line of communication. See, a lot of times we, as far as humans, we like to just kind of drive by prayer oh God, hope I get this job. And then you just keep it moving and you don't stop to listen. Maybe God is telling, might tell you that that job ain't for you, or that woman or that man ain't for you, or that woman or that man ain't for you or or something like that. It's, it's, it's kind of like uh, we just like, we demand all this stuff from god, but we don't stop to listen to god. That's where this informal sort of dialogue you have back and forth and it's important to realize that having that is really the Holy Ghost in within you speaking. And sometimes the Bible does say to try those spirits. It does say to try those spirits Because the devil will lie to you and present himself as the Holy Ghost to you. And I just want to throw that out there because sometimes we, some people you can tell they just don't have the Holy Ghost. It's what they do, and I don't want to get off on those weeks.
Speaker 1:But there's also the other type of prayer, which I call the formal prayer. Now, that is pretty much your now. This formal prayer is more along the lines of what we will commonly refer to as the Lord's Prayer. Now, let's stop right here, because Jesus is going to address something that we often forget when we talk about the Lord's Prayer, and this is also a case where you should read a verse or two above, a verse or two below, but preferably the whole chapter. So let's talk about Matthew, chapter 6, verse 7. Matthew, chapter 6, verse 7. Now, if you, that whole entire chapter is a chapter on prayer and this is a chapter on, and by this prayer I mean more of a formal kind of a sit down I need to get in touch with God type of prayer. This is kind of like it's more of an effort that's involved. So if you look right up to verse one, we're going to go up to verse 1.
Speaker 1:And it says it talks about how not to pray. In other words, don't get out there and trying to act like you're all super spiritual by praying out in public and praying real loud. And you guys know what I'm. What I'm talking about. Like people who seem like super spiritual, but and but there's just something about them that's fake. There's something about them that that feels off when they pray and it kind of sits in your spirit if you got the holy ghost, you know what I'm talking about. It just sort of rubs you like raw sandpaper, all Alright. So, and it's basically in verse 2, it talks about those being hypocrites and Jesus said they have their reward. That reward is coming. People look at them, all super spiritual, but we know that they're not going to a very nice place. Alright. So in verse 4 it says that thine arms may be a secret and thy father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly.
Speaker 1:Now, that is to say that and this is the type of formal prayer that I'm going to spend most of our time on today we're just going to go ahead and jump to that prayer and by doing so it's something that it sort of covers everything that, when you need to talk to God about it, gives you kind of an outline of what to do and how to address it. The one thing you will not mention, not see anywhere in this prayer that we're going to talk about as a begging type of prayer. For some reason we get out there and because we're sort of used to how the devil does things, we start begging God for stuff I have not yet, and this is sort of a new revelation to me that we shouldn't be begging God for stuff. You know, the bible talks about approaching the throne of grace with boldness, and the kingdom of the kingdom of god allows violence and the violence shall take it by force. Doesn't say anything about begging. Now, I get it, I get it.
Speaker 1:There are some situations where we are in between a rock and a hard place and a bit of lava. I get it. Trust me y'all, I get it. I've been there. I've been there. Oh God, please let me get out of this.
Speaker 1:But that's because now we're trying to change the will of God. I know that's a hard thing to hear. We are trying to change the will of God and that puts us in a very, very bad place, a very strange place to where we're going to do maybe next episode because of this question we may end up doing what's the difference in the different wills of God? Okay, we've yet. I'll probably do that next week, but we end up putting ourselves in a very precarious situation, trying to change the will of God when God is going to have whatever. This thing be a lesson to us All, right. So and I don't want to get off into those weeks, we'll take care of that next week.
Speaker 1:So we want to get away from, or stay away from, begging God to do something. If God's going to do it, he's going to do it. If God is going to heal you, he's going to heal you. If he's going to heal a family member, he's going to heal a family member. However, if he doesn't do these things for you, if his answer is no, he is still God, he is still almighty, he is still perfect, he is still holy His will. He may have something. He may use this thing that you're begging him to do, or begging him not to allow it to happen. He may be using that as a greater reasoning to get into this other thing, and again, I'm getting ahead of myself. So this will get back on track and we'll talk about that next week.
Speaker 1:Let's jump down to verse 7. Matthew 6, verse 7. And this is where a lot of people get it mixed up, and it's weird, because we still use this as a vain repetition. But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions, as the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. And by vain repetition they just mean that people just keep saying the same thing over and over and over, because they don't. A lot of times, people just don't know any better, they don't know any better, and you're just repeating the same thing over and over. There's nothing behind it, there's no substance behind it.
Speaker 1:So then, why then do we have the Lord's Prayer? And this is where some of these misguided teachings come from. And he's going to go right into it. He says don't be like them, because your father knows what things you have need of before you ask him. Right, this is verse eight. But here, verse nine, it starts to tell you, jesus, starts to tell you exactly how he wants us to pray After this manner. Pray you so, pray after this manner. This is not to say repeat after me. When you pray, say this thing. That's not what he said after this manner. So that, right there, shows us that there's something deeper going on than our father.
Speaker 1:Which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. This means that there's a manner. In other words, uh, if you get into a car, this is how you should drive, but everybody has a different way of driving. But the first thing you always have to do is crank the car up. That's what you have to do, first and foremost. You can't do anything else until you crank the car up. I don't care how you drive, where you're going, what directions you use to get there, you still got to crank the car up. So this is so.
Speaker 1:When Jesus says after this manner, he basically so. This is so. When jesus says after this manner, he basically means this is an outline or a format for you to pray, so let's go down through it. Our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. So basically, this is just a praise session. Lord, you're worthy. God, you're wonderful. God, you are the beginning and the end. You are. Your name is above every other name.
Speaker 1:You know those sorts of phrases is what you're going to lead off with when you're entering, quote unquote, the Lord's Prayer. You're not just saying Our Father, which art in heaven, god knows he's in heaven, but you're basically praising him and getting your your spirit in getting your spirit into connection with god. Think of it and I'm gonna date myself here, but kind of think of it like um, the old style modem connection we used to. You know, dial up you, you know use, use AOL or whatever, and it goes. This is you connecting to the spirit world. Okay, and so this is it. Then you go into thy kingdom. Come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Speaker 1:This is a completely new subject. God, I just want to be in your perfect will. I just want to do what you want me to do. God, you know my life, you know my ending from the beginning. You know exactly where I should be going and what I should be doing. God, I don't want to get in, out of your perfect will. I don't want to. I just want to be where you want me to be, god, you know this thing coming up Whatever your will is God. If you want me to get this job, god, give me this job. If not, god, I understand, I still love you.
Speaker 1:That's that section, that's that outline point, as it were. Then you go back, you go on down. That kingdom comes. Oh wait, give us this day our daily bread now. Give us this day our daily bread Now. Give us this day, our daily bread. This is the only point, y'all. This is the only point.
Speaker 1:After we've praised him, after we've asked God for his perfect will, this is where we ask him for things. God, I need a husband. God, I need a wife. God, you know. God, teach me how to live for you. God, my sister needs to be saved. My brother needs the Holy Ghost. God, I want God, please give us a revival in our church. God, bring the young kids back to church.
Speaker 1:You know, that's where you ask him for things and it doesn't. There is no, there is no time limit on how you spend your time. There are going to be times, y'all, that you don't get out of our Father which art in heaven, follow and be thy name. There are times you are not going to get out of that session because the Holy Spirit will just come in there and all you'll have is a praise time. There will be times when you get down to give us this day, our daily bread, that something hits you so hard that you can't get past that. It happens, and it doesn't make you any less of a saved person. It doesn't make you any less a Christian if you can't complete the entire thing, but just do it in order. God is a God of order, right. He made all these things. He made it in order. This is why Jesus put it in this order right Forgive us our debts and we forgive our debtors.
Speaker 1:Now, jj, this is the book of JJ, the book of JJ. I actually change debts to trespasses, because my debt to God, my debt, my debt to God is my sin. And but if you, there are people who will pray this Prayer and pray at debts and debtors, I get it. I said trespasses because I want to make sure that I get a repentance in there somewhere, because I got to make sure that I'm not carrying around unnecessary sins. Lead is not a temptation, see, that's why I changed it there. Me, personally, jj changed it there. If you want to keep debts and debtors there, that's why I changed it there. Me personally, jj changed it there. If you want to keep debts and debtors there, that's fine. However, however, you got to make sure you put this deliver us from evil and the dying is the kingdom of the power and the glory.
Speaker 1:Now, the reason why I changed it? Because in the right, the next verse is talked about forgiving other people's trespasses. Doesn't write the next verses talks about forgiving other people's trespasses, and so I don't know if that's a uh kind of a translation error on the king james version part or what. But god, god is going to be blessing you with money important, you know. Deliver us, lead us not a temptation, because god is not going to do that. But this is you establishing with god that you trust god, that god is not going to put you into a position which will lead you to sin. God is not going to put you in a position where he leads you to failure, but he will deliver you from evil. He will deliver you from people who don't like you. He will deliver you from people who want to see you harmed. He will deliver you from yourself too, because let's get it straight, it straight, walkers a lot of times we are just bad on ourselves.
Speaker 1:We are our own worst enemy, as the saying goes. Why? Because we are still in this flesh. I don't care how spiritual we want to be, we are still in this flesh. So that's why, if you and just to wrap it all up and I'm so glad we got this done in time the last part of that verse says for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. You wrap it back up with the praise. You start off with the praise and you wrap it up with the praise, because he's the Alpha and Omega, he is the all-powerful, he with the praise Because he's the Alpha and Omega. He is the all powerful, he is the provider, he's the deliverer, he fights the battles for me, not because of me, but because he is here. He is he. So it's important to kind of make sure that, instead of a vain repetition, if we follow that prayer, that prayer format, it is so effective. And now this is your formal prayer. This is not the. I'm driving along and, oh God, thank you for helping me avoid that accident that too, is a form of prayer.
Speaker 1:We want to make sure, though, even outside of these informal prayers. We want to make sure, though, even outside of these informal prayers, that we get that prayer, that formal prayer, in at least once a day. You don't have to do it. You know, like, if you, if you've never done that before, it's going to take you a little bit of time, and that's fine, that's fine, this is the thing. That's levels to this thing, so you work up to it.
Speaker 1:Like I said, there are going to be times when you can't get out of. Oh God, you're so wonderful. There are going to be times when you get to the give us this day, our daily bread All you can do is cry. It's just, it doesn't. You don't necessarily have to get to through the entire thing, but you always want to make sure that you start it with a praise and you end it with a praise when you are acknowledging that it's not you that is doing this through your prayer, but it is him that is doing this for you, him that is doing whatever this thing that you're praying for.
Speaker 1:However, your life is going, even if and I know this is going to sound controversial even if your life is going really badly right now, really terribly right now, it is God that is orchestrating your life, and there's a reason for it. It could just be that God is humbling you. God has humbled me several times and most of the time it takes a few minutes to realize that God is actually trying to humble you. By minutes I mean weeks, but sometimes God will do this to you to get you to the point where you turn to him in prayer. And that's not to say that God is mean God is trying to get you refocused on him. If you are focused on him, then you can make it. If you're focused on you, and how bad things are? You're not going to make it, and I know that sounds gloom and gloom, but it's absolutely true. All right, god loves you and he does these things for you, for us, no matter what.
Speaker 1:All right, I know we've come out of time, but if you have any other questions, be sure to hit me up at the walk with me Bible study at Gmail. Walk with me Bible study. One word at Gmail. Thank you so much to another young lady that sent me that question. I didn't put your name in the subject line, so I'm not going to say your name, so remember just. Thank you for liking and sharing and subscribing to the podcast. Thank you for telling other people about it. Thank you for listening and tell someone that Jesus loves you. That's probably the only positive thing they'll hear today. All right, god bless you all and see you all on the next one.