PRAYER
And He said to them, “When you pray, say:
‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive
everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
And He said to them, “When you pray, say:
‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive
everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
Luke 11:2-4
What prayer could be more true before God the Father than that which the Son, who is Truth, uttered with His own lips? -- St John Chrysostom
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving (Col 4:2). And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints (Eph 6:18).
I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me (Rom 15:30). For I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance (Phil 1:19).
Have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You (2 Chr 6:19).
FEAR BECAUSE OF SIN
FEAR
"Do not be afraid;
for God has come in order to test you,
and in order that the fear of Him
may remain with you,
so that you may not sin."
"Do not be afraid;
for God has come in order to test you,
and in order that the fear of Him
may remain with you,
so that you may not sin."
Exodus 20:20
He who walks along a precipice, although he may not fall over, yet he trembles and often falls through that very fear. Even so, he who flies not far from sin, but keeps near to it, lives in continual fear, and often falls. -- St John Chrysostom
Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble (Prv 28:14). Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning (1 Tim 5:20). By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil (Prv 16:6). Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still (Ps 4:4).
VIRTUOUS LIFE
VIRTUOUS
"The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;
whoever follows that path is safe."
"The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;
whoever follows that path is safe."
Proverbs 16:17
It is simply impossible to lead, without the aid of prayer, a virtuous life. Necessity urges us to pray for ourselves. Fraternal Charity obliges us to pray for others. God finds the prayer motivated by charity to be more meritorious than the prayer motivated by necessity. -- St John Chrysostom
The righteous LORD loves justice. The virtuous will see his face (Ps 11:7). The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness (Prv 11:5). And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it (Is 35:8). The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act (Prv 21:29).
O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure (Ps 7:9). You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Ps 16:11). Surely the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you (Ps 140:13). And I--in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness (Ps 17:15).
FRIENDSHIP WITH THE LORD
FRIENDS
"On behalf of a man he pleads with God
as a man pleads for his friend."
"On behalf of a man he pleads with God
as a man pleads for his friend."
Job 16:21
When you perceive that God is chastening you, fly not to his enemies...but to his friends, the martyrs, the saints, and those who were pleasing to him, and who have great power in God. -- St John Chrysostom : Orations 396AD
Eating and drinking don't make friendships - such friendship even robbers and murderers have. But if we are friends, if we truly care for one another, let's help one another spritually....Let's hinder those things that lead our friends away to hell. -- St. John Chrysostom
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God (2 Jn 1:11).
Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (Jas 4:4).
Published:
January 12, 2013 - 7:52AM
