John Flavel on Christian Prayer
The Presbyterian preacher John Flavel's words ring true indeed that there's no other sweeter outlet for the Christian in times of trouble than genuine prayer to God. When Jesus gave His disciples a sample of how to pray, we read the "Our Father". As the prayer goes it says:
Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13)
The whole model of prayer addresses the fact that the very first supplication must be for the glory of God before the one who is praying. The asking for what one needs is in the daily bread, acknowledging of one's sins in continued repentance while asking for the strength to forgive one's enemies as well as asking for deliverance from temptation but to be delivered from evil. All these start with God be glorified then help me to glorify you. As the statement goes, "Prayer does not change God, it changes me." and that is the model of the "Our Father" as it also seeks to help Christians become more forgiving and less sinful.
1 Peter 5:6-7 says, "Humble yourselves therefore before the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him for he careth for you." It is only by prayer that a Christian can truly and surely make their labors and sorrows lighter to bear in prayer. God uses the trials to call the Christian back to Him. It's easy to stop praying in comfort but let all the troubles come, faith and prayer are strengthened.
See also: