Our guide in prayer (Casey Cronin)

Mixing metaphors, I may not be the brightest crayon in the box but it took me some time to figure out what a “bucket list” was. Basically, it’s a compilation of things a person wants to accomplish before they “kick the bucket”. The term predates the 2007 movie of the same name by years but seems to be an accepted part of today’s vernacular.  So ask someone, ‘what’s on your bucket list?’ One item on mine is a visit to Hawaii someday. Sounds simple enough, but where to start planning this adventure? Which islands to visit? What’s worth spending money on and what’s not? Before I go I’d want to get some insight into what to expect, maybe find someone who’s been there before. Someone like Jon and Linda Walker, who’ve visited Hawai’i a bunch of times. They know more about Hawai’i than I ever will! I imagine their first-hand knowledge would be worth seeking out before I made any reservations.

Getting back to the subject at hand; how does one learn to pray effectively? Is there someone who could educate us on praying, someone so familiar with it as it is second nature to them? I bet you already know someone who could guide us in this adventure.

In Mathew 6, as part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives his listeners a Ph.D. recitation on prayer. He lays out the dos and don’ts: pray in secret, not conspicuously in front of others, don’t babble on or serve up a word salad but sincerely converse with your Father. He knows your needs before you can even put them into thought.

In the model prayer presented in Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus explains that the first emphasis is our relationship with God; His name honored, His Kingdom advanced, His will be obeyed. The second emphasis is on God’s relationship towards us: sustain us, forgive us, guide us, and protect us. Prayer may sound simple but it is hard work and a life-long pursuit.