~ ἆ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~_/ Jesus on Prayer and Worship \_~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ᾮ ~ . >>>> Summarized in modern phraseology the following points are emphasized >>> . ~* The conscious and persistent regard for iniquity in the heart of man gradually destroys the prayer connection of the human soul with the spirit communication between man and God. Naturally God hears the petition of his child, but when the human heart deliberately and persistently harbors the concepts of iniquity, there gradually ensues the loss of personal communion between the earth child and his Heavenly Father ~ . ~* When man hears God’s spirit speak within the human heart, inherent in such an experience is the fact that God simultaneously hears that man’s prayer. Even the forgiveness of sin operates in this same unerring fashion. The Father in heaven has forgiven you even before you have thought to ask him, but such forgiveness is not available in your personal spiritual experience until such a time as you forgive your fellow men. God’s forgiveness in fact is not conditioned upon your forgiving your fellows, but in experience it is exactly so conditioned ~ . ~* There is a basic law of justice in the universe which mercy is powerless to bypass. The unselfish glories of Paradise are not possible of reception by a thoroughly selfish human. Even the infinite love of God cannot force the salvation of eternal survival upon any mortal who does not choose to survive. Mercy has great scope for freedom of action in its bestowal, but, after all, there are mandates of justice which even love combined with mercy cannot effectively do away with ~ . ~* They who would receive mercy must show mercy; judge not that you be not judged. With the spirit with which you judge others you also shall be judged. In the end it will prove true: “Whoso stops his ears to the cry of the poor, he also shall some day cry for help, and no one will hear him.” The sincerity of any prayer is the assurance of its being heard; the spiritual wisdom and universe consistency of any petition is the determiner of the time, manner, and degree of the answer. A wise father does not literally answer the foolish prayers of his ignorant and inexperienced children, though the children may derive much pleasure and real soul satisfaction from the making of such absurd petitions ~ . ~* When you have become wholly dedicated to the doing of the will of the Father in heaven, the answer to all your petitions will be forthcoming because your prayers will be in full accordance with the Father’s will, and the Father’s will is ever clear throughout his vast universe. What the true son desires and the infinite Father wills IS. Such a prayer cannot remain unanswered, and no other sort of petition can possibly be fully answered ~ . ~* The cry of the righteous is the faith act of the child of God which opens the door of the Father’s storehouse of goodness, truth, and mercy, and these good gifts have long been in waiting for the son’s approach and personal devotion of purpose. Prayer does not change the divine attitude toward man, but it does change man’s attitude toward the changeless Father. The motive of the prayer gives it right of way to the divine ear, not the social, economic, or outward religious status of the one who prays ~ . ~* A thoroughly selfish soul cannot pray in the true sense of the word. Said Jesus: “Let your supreme delight be in the character of God, and he shall surely give you the sincere desires of your heart.” “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” “For the Lord hears the cry of the needy, and he will regard the prayer of the destitute.” ~ . “I have come forth from the Father; if, therefore, you are ever in doubt as to what you would ask of the Father, ask in my name, and I will present your petition in accordance with your real needs and desires and in accordance with my Father’s will.” When you pray guard against the great danger of becoming self-centered in your prayers. Avoid praying much for yourself; pray more for the spiritual progress of your brethren. Avoid materialistic praying; pray in the spirit and for the abundance of the gifts of the spirit ~ . ~* When you pray for the sick and afflicted, do not expect that your petitions will take the place of loving and intelligent ministry to the necessities of these afflicted ones. Pray for the welfare of your families, friends, and fellows, but especially pray for those who curse you, and make loving petitions for those who persecute you. “But when to pray, I will not say. Only the spirit that dwells within you may move you to the utterance of those petitions which are expressive of your inner relationship with the Father of spirits.” ~ . ~* Many resort to prayer only when in trouble. Such a practice is thoughtless and misleading. True, you do well to pray when harassed, but you should also be mindful to speak as a son to your Father even when all goes well with your soul. Let your real petitions always be in secret. Do not let men hear your personal prayers. Prayers of thanksgiving are appropriate for groups of worshipers, but the prayer of the soul is a personal matter. There is but one form of prayer which is appropriate for all God’s children, and that is: “Nevertheless, your will be done.” ~ . ~* Jesus warned his followers against thinking that their prayers would be rendered more effective by ornate repetitions, eloquent phraseology, fasting, penance, or sacrifices. But he did exhort his believers to employ prayer as a means of leading up through thanksgiving to true worship. Jesus deplored that so little of the spirit of thanksgiving was to be found in the prayers and worship of his followers. He quoted from the Scriptures on this occasion, saying: “It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to the name of the Most High, to acknowledge his loving-kindness every morning and his faithfulness every night, for God has made me glad through his work. In everything I will give thanks according to the will of God.” ~ . ~* Jesus taught his followers that, when they had made their prayers to the Father, they should remain for a time in silent receptivity to afford the indwelling spirit the better opportunity to speak to the listening soul. The spirit of the Father speaks best to man when the human mind is in an attitude of true worship. We worship God by the aid of the Father’s indwelling spirit and by the illumination of the human mind through the ministry of truth. Worship, taught Jesus, makes one increasingly like the being who is worshiped. Worship is a transforming experience whereby the finite gradually approaches and ultimately attains the presence of the Infinite ~ . Jesusanity - Join the Public Group, ask questions and learn more https://facebook/groups/jesusanity/ . Jesusanity. For all the World . jesusanity.org . Jesusanity is here ~ The time is now....... . ~ Ȋ ᾎM >> . ~ Ŝtepђen >> Ρurveyor of Ʈrue Ŝpirituality ~ Ŝpiritual Ʈruth >> including the Teachings of Jesus which shall be the basis of the revival for the spiritual evolution of Ӈumanity ~ . The Spirit of Truth in the New Temple of the Heart . ~ I offer guidance only as the truth lies within your own hearts ~ Open up to the fragment of God that indwells within you and He shall surely direct your paths ~ Seek and thou shalt find the Spirit of Truth within ~ . ~ WE ARE ONE >> . ~ ἆ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~_/ Ʈђe Kingdom of God is within all \_~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ᾮ ~ ~ ἆ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~_/ Embrace it with all of your heart \_~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ᾮ ~ . ~ ἆ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~_/ Ȋ ᾎM ἆlphḁ ḁnd ᾮmeģḁ \_~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ᾮ ~ ~ Ƒ†Ḹ _/ Ʈђe Ƒirst ḁnd ṱђe Lḁst ~ Ʈђe Beģinninģ ḁnd ṱђe Ẽnd \_ B†Ẽ ~ ~
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 14:52:41 +0000
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