For a more enriching experience,
go down on your knees to pray or take it one step further
and prostrate yourself (lay face down) on the floor while praying.
Father, today's reading below reveals some fairly simple lines of instruction when praying. There is no huge mystery in how to communicate with You. It also reveals the importance of standing in complete certainty that You hear my prayer and know my needs before I even mention them. The part that sticks out for me today is about forgiveness because it does not always come easy and I know that it is my choice to forgive or not to forgive. Sometimes I allow the smallest things to consume my spirit and I eat up the drama 'as if' the drama is my daily bread. Father, You are my Daily Bread. You are my Daily Substance. You are my Source and my Supply for all Good things. I have been guilty of holding others to standards that I haven't even attained, much less try to attain. I have even gone as far as holding others to laws, rules, morals and values that I have broken or that someone I Love has broken. There have been times, when I have not even heard the full story and make a judgment call and withhold compassion, mercy and forgiveness. I don't know what that is about but what I do know is that it is wrong. It doesn't make any sense and I offer no excuse and all I can say is, "Father, I have this awareness now, please forgive me."
In the Gospels, Matthew and Luke wrote about You teaching them how to pray. (Matthew 6:7-15 the full account of the Lord's Prayer in the reading below and in Luke 11:1-4.) Both of their accounts basically say the same thing, which is we should ask You to forgive us in the 'same way' we forgive others. This begs the question, "Do I really want you to forgive me 'as I' choose to forgive others?" Mercy, compassion and forgiveness is not only a gift from You, it is my choice to receive this gift. Father, my eyes have been opened and from now on I open Your gift with gratitude and will put Your gift to Good use and forgive others in the same way that I want you to forgive me.
Through Jesus Christ's Most Precious Blood, Most Sacred Name and Most Holy Face, I thank You for this awareness. Amen~
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matthew 6:7-15
7 In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 "This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread;
12 and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
13 and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one."
14 if you forgive others their transgressions, your Heavenly Father will forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ
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