Sun Inspiration

Morning Inspiration with Pastor Merritt

How should we pray to God? Jesus taught us that in Matthew, chapter 6. But remember, the primary purpose of prayer is not to ask God for anything. The primary purpose of prayer is not to get what you want from God, it is to get what God wants for you. Jesus says it is okay to ask for things as long as you ask for the right things in the right way and you ask for things with the right motive.

First we glorify God and ask that His will be done. Then we ask God to provide for our needs. You will never have a proper relationship with all your possessions until you understand everything you have, everything you need, everything you even think you own comes from God. We go to God for our daily needs.

Then we ask God to pardon our sins. To do this you have to be forgiven. And you have to be forgiving. If you're not right with God internally, you're going to have guilt. If you're not right with someone else you're going to have bitterness. If you haven't gone to God for forgiveness of your sins, that will come between you and God.

Finally you ask God to protect your purity. The key to overcoming temptation is surrender. When you come into a situation where you are tempted to do wrong, you're going to surrender to one of two things every time. You're going to surrender to the temptation or you're going to surrender to God who doesn't want you to enter that temptation. Jesus said if you will let God lead you in your life, every moment of the day, you won't be led into temptation because you will be surrendered to Him.

Matthew 6: 7-15

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.