The Secret to a Joyful Prayer Life
Circle of Joyful Prayer
by
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Chapter One
CIRCLE OF JOYFUL PRAYER
Matthew 6:9-13
It is my habit to "walk and talk" with Lord early in the morning. It was on such a walk that I met a man. Unnoticed, a car drove by me, suddenly pulled over, and parked.
A man got out and started across the street. It was at this point he got my attention. I could see he was intent on intercepting my walk. I thought: "Oh boy, am I going to be mugged right here?
As he approached me, I suddenly recognized him as a man who accepted a call to full-time ministry a few years before, and was now a student at the seminary. He was also pastor of a small church near the seminary. We exchanged greetings then stood and talked for an hour. We talked about this and that; about his life and mine; about his church and my church. We had a wonderful time talking to each other.
Prayer is intercepting God’s path. It is pulling over, getting out and getting into God’s presence. Prayer is talking about this and that--about your life and his plans. Prayer is a joyful chat with a loving God who desires the chat even more than we.
The disciples saw Jesus at prayer. They saw the raw power and the residual joy and peace He had as a result. They asked Jesus to teach them to pray like He did.
Jesus gave them a sample prayer to follow. All night conversations with God condensed into 66 words. Seasons of prayer reduced to 35 seconds. Everything anyone ever needs to understand about prayer concentrated in 6 phrases. Imagine it! Comprehend it! Grasp it!
It is not just a prayer to be recited. One of the most holy treasures of the church, the Lord’s Prayer, was once reserved for only members of the church. Only those who were "card-carrying-Christians" could say it. It was a privilege to recite it. No one could say: "Our Father," unless he truly was their "Father" by virtue of being born-again and a Christ-follower.
The Lord’s Prayer model is not just a prayer to be recited. The Lord gave it 2 times (Luke and Matthew). Had Jesus given it to be memorized and recited, he would not have given us two different versions.
The disciples said, "Teach us to pray." They did not say: "Teach us a prayer." It is one thing to read a copy of a prayer; it’s something else to know how to pray.
The Lord’s Prayer is a model prayer—a skeleton on which to put fleshy words. It is an outline to which you add thoughts as you add water to concentrated orange juice. When water and juice are in correct proportions it becomes a refreshing drink. So is the Lord’s Prayer. It is refreshing, stimulating, invigorating, and joyful.
When I first began to really study the Lord’s Prayer, I realized that this prayer covers everything needed in a prayer.It is absolutely mind-boggling. If you will work your way through its outline, no matter what you are praying about, you will have the confidence that you’re praying the way Jesus taught.
Notice the impact of this magnificent model prayer:
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About the Book
The Lord’s Prayer is well known to most people. The author has paraphrased the six phrases of this sample prayer into modern, relevant, and understandable language that is understood by every generation. This simple, yet magnificent, prayer our Lord taught His disciples is a masterpiece. It is the Reader’s Digest of prayer, the epitome of condensed power.
The six-phrases of the Lord’s Prayer brings us into the Holy of Holies where we worship Almighty God. We learn to submit to His will and plan, then to make our requests for our needs and pardon for our sins, and plead for protection in a godless world of temptations, danger, stress and overwhelming evil. We then return to where we started–in the Holy Place, worshipping our sovereign, almighty, powerful, eternal God.
As we traversed the circle we acknowledged God’s holy name, plunged to the depths where we recognized our personal needs, confessed our sins, and invoked His protection from the enemy of our soul. We then rose from our faces to the ground to bask in the grandeur and beauty of His Kingdom and Power and Glory. It is what I call, The Circle of Joyful Prayer.
Jesus gave the disciples, and us, a sample prayer to follow. All night conversations with God condensed into 66 words. Seasons of prayer reduced to 35 seconds. Everything anyone ever needs to understand about prayer concentrated in 6 phrases. Imagine it! Comprehend it! Grasp it! Pray it!
It is not just a prayer to be recited. One of the most holy treasures of the church, the Lord’s Prayer, was once reserved for only members of the church. Only those who were "card-carrying-Christians" could say it. Now it is simplified so that everybody can pray this skeleton prayer, expand it and make prayer truly a joyful experience.
The disciples said, "Teach us to pray." They did not say: "Teach us a prayer." It is one thing to read a copy of a prayer; it’s something else to know how to pray.
The Lord’s Prayer is a model prayer—a skeleton on which to put fleshy words. It is an outline to which you add thoughts as you add water to concentrated orange juice. When water and juice are in correct proportions it becomes a refreshing drink. So is the Lord’s Prayer. It is refreshing, stimulating, invigorating, and joyful.
About the Author
Tom Floyd has served as Pastor and Evangelist for many years. An honors student at University and graduate school, Tom articulates the gospel message so that every age understands clearly.
As well as a four-book series on the Lord’s Prayer, Tom has written two other books: Guidelines for Overcomers, and How To Effectively Build Dynamic Leaders and Great Churches.
As a freelance writer, Tom has published several articles in such periodicals at Holiness Today, Come Ye Apart, as well as youth magazines and Sunday School periodicals. He has also created numerous workshops and seminars and authored many teaching manuals.
As a speaker, Tom travels extensively across America with his unique and fresh presentation to camp meetings, retreats, crusades, leadership conferences and Faith Promise conventions
Tom serves as Director of the Sacramento District Institute of Ministry that trains young people for full time ministry. He also serves coach/consultant concentrating on church refocusing and church health.
Two additional tools Tom has created for the church are available through Giving Hope to the Church ministries. These two tools are: Unique Workshops that Equip Struggling Disciples and, Powerful Sermons That Meet Modern Spiritual Needs.
Contact Tom through his web site for further information www.ehopegroup.com