Does Your Preacher Pray?

   Do you still pray? I mean, really talk to God. When we pray we communicate with God. Communication happens when two or more individual exchanges thought. Therefore, no communication happens when we just blabber words using memorized prayers. Paul thought us how to approach God in  Hebrew 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

   A lot of Christians fail to accomplish an important command from God and that is to pray regularly day and night by merely chanting empty words. In fact vain repetition is loathsome to God, and Jesus himself taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:7 “When you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Then he gave us an example which was now popularly known as The Lord’s Prayer. (Verses 9-13) Again, the said sample prayer given by Jesus was misquoted as it is now even used in chanting. Jesus did not say “This is what you will pray…Our Father…” but listen carefully, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in Heaven…” (v. 9) after this manner means pray like these. We are also request to constantly devote ourselves in prayers Colossian 4:2 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” Why Paul used the word devote? Devote means – giving constant attention to….The apostle knew without prayers there s no relationship with God. People with long distance relationship knew how difficult it feels without having communication to his/her love ones. I also heard of couple living together and sleeping on the same bed in this sentiment: “We rarely talk any more.” Sadly, some Christian had similar relationship with God. They go to church without really talking to God but just there for the sake of being there for attendance.

   Galatians 4:6 “Upang ipakilalang kayo’y mga anak ng Diyos, pinagkalooban niya tayo ng Espiritu ng kanyang Anak nang tayo’y makatawag sa kanya ng “Ama! Ama Ko!” I memorized* the verse in Filipino because I think the verse is very important to me, for this determine who are the real children of God and not the illegitimate one.

   “Before spiritual growth, there must be a spiritual life.” That is what Jesus advise to Nicodemus when he said “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) That should make one re-think his/her position in the sight of God. There are only two sides in the world; you are either on God’s kingdom or you are with Satan.

   Does your preacher pray? Do you? Does your God spoke back?

(*memorized verse to be your guide on daily living but never memorized prayer…)