Prayer is for us

Readings for Tuesday March 3, 2009

First Reading:  Isaiah 55:10-11

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 34

Gospel:  Matthew 6:7-15

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."  (Matt 6:8)

Have you ever stopped and wondered about the purpose of prayer?  I think sometimes that we tend to treat it more as a "to do" session for God instead of a relationship with Him.  It seems as we go about prayer as a way to remind or to inform God of all the things that we need or of all those we are praying for.  Which do not get me wrong, we should be praying for certain intentions; but what is our mindset when we prayer?  Do we think about the words of today's gospel, which tell us that God already knows what we need ever before we ask?  Do we acknowledge the awesomeness of God even before we begin to pray?  

When we enter prayer, we should remember that prayer is not instructions or a news flash for God, He already knows everything.  Prayer is more for us, to acknowledge God and to acknowledge how much we need Him in our lives.  Prayer allows us to humble ourselves and to tell God that we know how weak we are, and we know how strong He is.  It is a chance for us to tell Him we understand that for humans many things are impossible, but with God all is possible.  Prayer allows us that specific opportunity to recognize who God is.  Think about the Our Father prayer; it starts off with "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name ..."  This prayer starts off with us acknowledging God as our Father in heaven who is so great and glorious that words cannot even fully describe.  The our Father is a beautiful prayer that was handed down to us straight from Christ; when we pray it let us pray it with all our heart and with complete reverence for God.  

Remember, prayer is for us.  

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.