The Rev. Melissa Hollerith

Today’s Gospel: Matthew 6:7–15 

Any conversation with God is prayer. I pray often and in odd places. I pray in the shower because it is quiet, just my naked self and my Lord. I used to pray in the carpool line; it is wonderful trapped time for praying. I also pray about all kinds of things. The number of times I prayed when it was 4th down and 2 yards to go and our son had the football would probably make you shudder. But I did, and I think God understood this mother’s prayers.  Prayer is us reaching towards the Creator with all manner of requests and thanksgivings and confessions.

Our lesson today tell us the most important thing about our prayers is that they are authentic- not puffery. Our prayers are after all us reaching out to our Maker in an effort to connect more fully in that relationship, it’s us reaching to our Friend and Comforter and pouring out our hearts, and unless our prayers are sincere, what’s the point?

I love thinking that Jesus knew we might be at a loss of words sometimes so He gave us the perfect prayer to say on all occasions, the Lord’s Prayer. And what a prayer it is. Just saying, “thy will be done” takes my breath away because in most instances I want my will to be done.  We should say this prayer daily if for no other reason than to remind ourselves that we are nothing without God. It is God that forgives us and God that delivers us.

Pax,

Melissa +

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne. Amen.  

— Frances R. Havergal  1874