Sunday, June 16, 2013

Modes of Prayer

Did you ever hear or read something about our Faith and say to yourself, "that sounds like something I should have known in first grade"? 

If you do, welcome to the club - because it happens to me all the time.

This week, for example, I read that every prayer should have the following modes:

  • Adoration
  • Contrition
  • Thanksgiving
  • Supplication

In other words, we should start our prayers by praising God, and telling Him how much we love him.  Then we should spend time reflecting on our sins and asking God for forgiveness. Next, we should thank God for everything He has given for us.  

Then we can ask God for that favor we need, or the blessings we want.  

Such a simple formula, and yet, it has eluded me for (mumble mumble) years.  Don't get me wrong, I know we are supposed to do each of those.  I just never saw it laid out so perfectly like that.  

I'm sure it was taught to me.  I'm sure one of my Pastors tried to tell it to me.  I'm sure I skimmed across it in many a book.  It just never hit me over the head like it did this week.

Probably because I was too busy asking God for favors ....

God Bless.

3 comments:

Victor S E Moubarak said...

And my guess is that most people pray just to ask for favours. It's in our sub-conscious to do just that. But then ... Jesus taught us in the Lord's Prayer to ask for favours ... after we have praised Him.

Thanx for the reminder, Michael.

God bless.

Mary N. said...

Don't feel bad, Michael, I just heard about this a few years ago too :) Like you, I wondered why I hadn't known it before then!

Michael said...

Victor, Colleen and Mary - thank you all for your comments and support. God Bless all of you.