‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ‘Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. –Matthew 6:9

Last Sunday we concluded our series about the Fruit of the Spirit and focused on the gift of self-control.

What do we allow to receive our attention? What controls us? Is it the ‘stuff’ of this earthly walk and the temptations on our humanity or are we able to center ourselves on godly pursuits?

The more realistic question for us to ponder coming out of this series is, how do we return to our center and tap into that space in our core where God dwells? What practices help us regain our focus upon the holy?

The most accessible answer for returning to God is prayer. Over the next four weeks we will listen more intently to Jesus’ model for how to pray from Matthew 6:9-15. The Lord’s prayer is more than a litany we recite every Sunday. It is the template for expression. Prayer lays the groundwork for putting into words what we want God to know.

The first stop along this journey is to “name and proclaim” who God is. There is a lot that can be said by addressing who God is to us and why God is worthy of our attention. “Creator who breathed life into existence.” “Comforter to hold us when we are weak.” “God of yesterday, today and tomorrow.”

Making that first step and welcoming God back into the conversation is saying a mouthful. Simply naming and proclaiming who God is, opens the line of the communication. Getting started can be the hardest part. But once the invitation is extended the Holy Spirit can go to work through us and for us.

I look forward to exploring prayer with you in person or on YouTube.

Brett