If someone asked you how you get through your days, how would you answer? The one thing that keeps you grounded, that gives you strength to keep on through your days?
For me it is prayer. It is my relationship with the One and Only, Our Heavenly Father. I find myself going to Him in prayer every day and all throughout my day, in the good moments and through the bad moments. Prayer is a huge part of my life, but at age 36 I still find myself a bit insecure about it and asking, am I doing this right?
It wasn't until recently when Porter and Shepherd were asking me questions about talking to God that I found myself digging deeper so I could easily teach them about prayer. Sure I could say you just talk to God by thanking God, asking Him to help you and guide you, but I want to give them more, to open doors for them to have a real relationship with God.
Prayer looks differently for everyone, but through this blog post I want to share with you all how I for years have used the Lord's Prayer to guide my own prayers.
I remember many things from my childhood. I remember the exact moment when I was a five-year-old child at vacation bible school feeling a tug at me to want to know more about God. That's when my spiritual journey started.
As the years passed and I was growing physically and spiritually, the next memorable moment in my spiritual journey was when I was 13 years old and watching my big brother Sean go through his first open heart surgery — aortic valve replacement.
It was in this moment that I learned to pray and understand the Lord's Prayer for what it was. The prayer wasn't just words to memorize and recite after a sporting event with my teammates. From that moment on the Lord's Prayer became my guide and my outline for my own prayers.
The best advice I've gotten through my years — pray. The best advice I will forever give to others — pray.
The Lord's Prayer is found in the Bible, Matthew 6:9-13, and today I want to share with you all how I use it as a guide for my prayers.
**"Our Father"**
Right from the start in those first two words I am reminded that we are talking to Our Father, not mine, but all of ours. We are all connected by our Creator.
**"Who art in heaven"**
Growing up I remember thinking of heaven as a place above the clouds where God lived. But as I have grown physically and spiritually I think our Father is all around us and within us.
**"Hallowed be thy name"**
Hallowed meaning sacred, to honor something holy. To honor Our Father who created us all and everything around us.
**"Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"**
Recognizing that His plans for our lives will always be better than what we could ever plan for ourselves. Truly believing that He is in control.
**"Give us this day…"**
Today, give us this day — not focused on tomorrow because we are not promised a tomorrow, but to be in the now, the moment for the day God has given us.
**"Our daily bread"**
This sounds like physical nourishment, but I think it means spiritual nourishment. Asking for guidance, strength, wisdom, and assistance through the day that has been given to me.
**"And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."**
We are all imperfect and by acknowledging this I think it is easier for me to ask for forgiveness for all the ways I have fallen short.
**"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."**
Asking God to help guide us, keep us on track, focused on Him and His truth.
**"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever."**
Closing out my prayer by pointing it back to our Creator, our Father, giving praise to the one that keeps us all connected through His love.
There is no right or wrong way to pray to our Heavenly Father, just keep at it. The connection, the bond between you and God only gets stronger as you keep at it.
I used to think I must have long, beautifully worded prayers, but then figured out that God doesn't care how fancy my prayers are. He just wants us. He wants a relationship with us.
"I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time — waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God — it changes me." — C.S. Lewis
Hope you all have a great day!
XX – Ash
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1