Morning Coffee and Prayer

Dear God, We lift up those who are mourning We lift up those who are in need We lift up the broken We lift up the sick We lift up the hungry We lift up the happy We lift up the rich We lift up the poor We lift up the regulars We lift up the world-famous We lift up the peaceful We lift up the violent We lift up the young, middle-aged, and well-seasoned We lift up every race, creed, color and shape... sexual preference, personal preference, and everything in between We lift up everyone because You died for all, and You’ve given the opportunity for all to choose to receive forgiveness and healing and grace. Thank you God, Amen  

Matthew 6:13 NASB [13] And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Dear Lord,  it says in 1 Peter 5, that... “the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ We pray, God, that you would not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil. May we seek Your face today in the little decisions and the big events that happen. We give this day to you. Amen

“Give us today our daily bread.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ Jesus prays for God to provide the daily bread instead of thanking God for the daily bread. In my daily prayers I’m usually thanking Him for food not really asking Him for daily nourishment.  Why does Jesus demonstrate for us to ask for this? Jesus emulating this prayer for us reminds me that God is the one providing us our daily sustenance. It is so easy for me especially in my US suburban daily life to take God’s provision of everyday nourishment for granted. Maybe you’re reading this and you’re struggling. I know that God sees you, and he know your struggle. Thank you God for this day of Monday January 25th. I ask you now for daily nourishment. Not just for myself but especially for those who might not have the means to be able to afford that nourishment right now. I acknowledge that You are the provider of all things. Thank you God, Amen

I"m continuing observations in Matthew 6:6 .  Today, we are discussing authentic prayer.  First, Jesus talks about what it looks to pray hypocritically.  In the NIV Archeological Study Bible it says that, “pious Jews prayed publicly at set times-usually morning, afternoon, and evening,” (1658).  Hypocrites were considered to be the pious Jews.  What would a "pious Jew" be in our day and time? Probably someone who might consider themselves to be "Good Christians" who do all the right things... going to church, reading the Bible, volunteering at church, and when it comes to prayer... it could be possible that when they pray in groups, other people have problems but personally.. everything\"s going great!!! Nothing wrong here... No sin, no problems... "wow buddy, you\"ve got it really bad..." I know I\"ve been that person before.... I might also have some tendency to act this way now because I don\"t want to face my problems... It\...

Heaven is mentioned or referred to two times in this prayer. The first reference to Heaven is in verse 9 when Jesus prays, “Our Father in heaven”. When we address God, we are speaking to Him whose dwelling is in Heaven. The second reference to Heaven is in verse 10 when Jesus prays, “Your kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven”. It is interesting to note that the Kingdom is God’s, which is in Heaven as Jesus has prayed that may it be on Earth as it is in Heaven. The thing that caught me in these references to Heaven, was not the manner in which Jesus prays for Heaven to come, but that I don’t have a heavenly mindset in my walk with Him. How many times I have prayed for His Kingdom to come to earth as it is in Heaven? Not very many. My Christian walk seems to be focused a lot more on the here-and-now instead of our future destination. Jesus certainly had a heavenly mindset in his walk here on earth. It is in Heaven, which we should be hoping for.