How to Pray

23/05/2025

Episode 24 of the podcast - "Beyond Daily Bread"

The only 'ask' for physical provision taught in the Lord’s Prayer is “Give us today our daily bread”. If ‘daily bread’ represents our essential needs on a day to day basis, what place is there to be asking God for anything more than this. Doesn’t Jesus also encourage us to ask for ‘anything’? Doesn’t the bible teach us that God will give us the ‘desired of our heart”?

The only 'ask' for physical provision taught in the Lord’s Prayer is “Give us today our daily bread”.  If ‘daily bread’ represents our essential needs on a day to day basis, what place is there to be asking God for anything more than this.&nb...

09/05/2025

Episode 23 of the podcast - 'Not Worrying about tomorrow'...

In teaching us to pray daily for the recurring needs we have each day, rather than for tomorrow, Jesus is pushing into the importance of our reliance on the Father. To what extent should this change the way we plan for the future. Elsewhere, planning is seen as positive thing in Jesus’ teaching and other scriptures, so how can we get the right balance between preparation and dependence?

In teaching us to pray daily for the recurring needs we have each day, rather than for tomorrow, Jesus is pushing into the importance of our reliance on the Father.  To what extent should this change the way we plan for the future.  Else...

05/05/2025

Episode 22 of the podcast - Give US

Touching again on the communal aspect of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray “give US today”, not “give ME today”. How do we interpret asking God to give in the context of a faith community where we are called to serve each other. Does serving each other extend to being part of God providing for other people’s needs? The wider teaching of Jesus and the apostles suggest that it does!

Touching again on the communal aspect of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray “give US today”, not “give ME today”. How do we interpret asking God to give in the context of a faith community where we are called to serve each other.  Do...

05/05/2025

After an extended Easter break, we're back with the 21st Episode of the podcast and the second half of the Lord's Prayer:

Episode 21 - Give us Today

We’re now into the second half of the Lord’s Prayer, yet only now does Jesus teach us to ask for anything. How often do our prayer times resemble a shopping list of requests rather than the structure Jesus teaches, where our focus is on God and His Kingdom first before asking for things. This is totally in line with Jesus’ teaching to seek the Kingdom of God first. He also teaches that God knows what we need before we eve ask, so is there even any need to be asking for anything?

We’re now into the second half of the Lord’s Prayer, yet only now does Jesus teach us to ask for anything. How often do our prayer times resemble a shopping list of requests rather than the structure Jesus teaches, where our focus is on God and Hi...

18/04/2025

and we wait...

12/04/2025

Episode 20 of the podcast - Application: Half-way....

As we reach the half-way point in our reflections on the Lord’s Prayer, we consider how God’s Will can be accomplished through the context of our everyday lives I share the back story to the podcast music theme. We’ll be taking a pause for Easter 25 after this episode and recommence in the week beginning 21st April ’25.

As we reach the half-way point in our reflections on the Lord’s Prayer, we consider how God’s Will can be accomplished through the context of our everyday lives and I share the back story to the music theme use in this podcast.  With this epi...

09/04/2025

Episode 19 of the podcast - On Earth as it is in Heaven...

Today we continue to reflect on praying for God’s Will to be done. Following on from looking at Jesus’ extreme example of praying this, what does it mean for us to do it? How instrumental are we in carrying out God’s will on earth?

Today we continue to reflect on praying for God’s Will to be done.  Following on from looking at Jesus’ extreme example of praying this, what does it mean for us to do it?  How instrumental are we in carrying out God’s will on earth?

07/04/2025

Episode 18 of the podcast - Your will, not mine...

Today we reflect on praying for God’s Will to be done. Following on from praying that God’s Kingdom will come, Jesus teaches us to pray that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. How does Jesus’ example shine a light on what this really means? Do we understand the extent to which praying for God’s will to be done, requires us to submit our own will to His?

Today we reflect on praying for God’s Will to be done.  Following on from praying that God’s Kingdom will come, Jesus teaches us to pray that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. How does Jesus’ example shine a light on what this rea...

04/04/2025

Episode 17 of the podcast - Kingdom Values...

Today we consider Kingdom Values - the way in which we’re called to live our lives if we're to be effective in advancing God’s Kingdom. When we pray, "Your Kingdom Come", are our lives consistent with the values of the Kingdom we're praying for, or are we in danger of just paying lip service to it?

Today we consider Kingdom Values - the way in which we’re called to live our lives if we're to be effective in advancing God’s Kingdom.  When we pray, "Your Kingdom Come", are our lives consistent with the values of the Kingdom we're praying ...

03/04/2025

Episode 16 of the podcast - Kingdom Come...

In today’s application episode, we move into the 3rd line of the Lord’s Prayer with ‘Your Kingdom Come’. What is God’s Kingdom and what does praying for it ‘to come’ really mean? We consider the Kingdoms in play in Jesus' day and reflect on those that are still in competition for our allegiance today. We also reflect on what role we might have to play in helping to build God's Kingdom here on earth.

In today’s application episode, we move into the 3rd line of the Lord’s Prayer with ‘Your Kingdom Come’.  What is God’s Kingdom and what does praying for it ‘to come’ really mean? We consider the Kingdoms in play in Jesus' day and reflect on ...

01/04/2025

Episode 15 of the podcast - Application: Commitment to ACT...

In today’s application episode, we pause again to take stock of what we’ve learnt so far, and consider the practical implications of praying the second like of the Lord’s Prayer. Can a fuller understanding of the words ‘Hallowed’ and ‘Name’ motivate us to a more action-based approach to prayer?

In today’s application episode, we pause again to take stock of what we’ve learnt so far, and consider the practical implications of praying the second like of the Lord’s Prayer.  Can a fuller understanding of the words ‘Hallowed’ and ‘Name’ ...

29/03/2025

Episode 14 of the podcast - The Name of Jesus...

In this Episode, we take a slight detour to consider the Name of Jesus and what it means to pray in Jesus Name. This was not part of the Lord’s Prayer - it didn’t need to be, Jesus was there. But just before Jesus was crucified, raised from the dead and ascended to heaven, he taught his disciples to pray in His name. How does this fit into the teaching Jesus previously gave his disciples with the Lord’s Prayer?

In this Episode, we take a slight detour to consider the Name of Jesus and what it means to pray in Jesus Name.  This was not part of the Lord’s Prayer - it didn’t need to be, Jesus was there. But just before Jesus was crucified, raised from ...