The Prayer of the Christian (Part 5) Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: The Prayer of the Christian (Part 5) -------------------------------- Date: 11/14/2000 Keyword: "prayer" "praying" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Matthew 6:7-12* 7. And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9. Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11. Give us this day our daily bread; 12. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors; Questions 1. What do we owe God?   2. When we ask Him to forgive our debts, what are we really asking?   3. What does verse 12 require?   Practical help Many of us, when asked to describe how we have been harmed by someone else, have the ability to instantly recall in detail the entire incident in living color. Recalling how we have harmed others is sometimes not as easy because it is usually mixed with thoughts of justification. Sure, we harmed them, but they had it coming to them…. Oftentimes, the reason some people fall into pornography has more to do with anger and resentment than it does with having a weak will. So where are you when it comes to forgiving others? Could it be that you are avoiding this part of yourself by surfing the Net for porn pictures? When you are ready to recover and grow spiritually, start by praying for the ability to resolve the conflicts in your life — not by fixing others, but by forgiving debts. Where do you begin, you wonder? With the knowledge that you owe a lot more to God than others owe you. When you have settled into this reality and begin living according to this truth, God will help you begin cleaning house. My prayer for you is that your porn habit will be replaced by the love of real people in your life as you learn to forgive and care for them as God directs. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2000 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1957, 1971 by the Division or Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.