Two
nighttime prayers; One from Stella Joan that I had never heard before
and one that my mother taught me when I was about 5 or 6 years of
age. Both are reverent and worthwhile. The first one seeks protection
in the here and now, while the second one seems to focus in on the future.
Frankly,
I am not into form prayers, because I believe it should be an
outpouring of the heart to God. However, even something that is a
form is not necessarily something you should not do.
Jesus
said...
Matthew
6 (World
English
Bible)
5 “When
you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand
and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that
they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have
received their reward. 6 But
you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your
door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees
in secret will reward you openly. 7 In
praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they
think that they will be heard for their much speaking. 8 Therefore
don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need,
before you ask him. 9 Pray
like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept
holy. 10 Let
your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on
earth. 11 Give
us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive
us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13 Bring
us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours
is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. (emphasis
added)
Jesus’ prayer
could be just repeated “as is”, but I think it would be better if
the principles expressed in his prayer were uttered from your own
stream of consciousness. Why? Well, because of verses five to eight.
Would it be wrong to recite Jesus’ words? No, but I think the point
is a quiet interaction with God; a private expression of your heart.
Words learned by rote have the potential of being just something that
is said and not an expression of the heart.
Whatever you say in
prayer, I encourage you to follow the principles Jesus lays forth in
his “model prayer”- they are magnificent!!
ps. I think I
actually like the prayer from Stella Joan better than the one I
learned in my youth.