The Prayer That Changes Me

I'm pretty much a homebody at heart.  I wasn't excited about leaving for a work-related conference just two days after returning from the ladies' retreat at Camp Barakel.  But between the two events, I've been treated to some excellent Bible teaching, so the time away has been worth it!  

Dr. John Barnett, senior pastor at Calvary Bible Church in Kalamazoo has been leading the conference attendees through a study of the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, as "the prayer that changes me" to live in a manner that is consumed with pleasing God.  The Christian life is simple, but it's not easy. We are always presented with two choices in everything we do. . .pleasing God or pleasing self.  Jesus said in John 8:29, "And he who sent me is with me.  He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him."  Jesus always chose to do what was pleasing to the Heavenly Father.

To follow in Jesus' example, we looked at the following verses as a foundation to praying the Lord's Prayer:


Romans 8:8-9a - Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. (Reference Galatians 5 for the contrast of the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.)


Philippians 2:13 - For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."  

Colossians 1:10 - So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  It's not enough to read and understand the truths of God's Word; we must seek to do his will.


I Thessalonians 4:1 - Finally, then brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more." 

II Timothy 2:4 - No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.  God called (enlisted) us, so all our life should be directed to pleasing our Commander.  

I John 3:22 - And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.  When we love the Lord and are living a life of submission to God, we will be blessed with answered prayers.

In the next post, I'll cover Dr. Barnett's seven aspects of prayers that are prayed in the manner of the Lord's Prayer, not in vain repetition, but from hearts that desire to please the Lord.