Two nighttime prayers; One from Stella Joan that I had never heard before and one that my mother taught me when I was about 5 or 6 years of age. Both are reverent and worthwhile. The first one seeks protection in the here and now, while the second one seems to focus in on the future.
Frankly, I am not into form prayers, because I believe it should be an outpouring of the heart to God. However, even something that is a form is not necessarily something you should not do.
Jesus said...
Matthew 6 (World English Bible)
5 “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. 8 Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him. 9 Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. (emphasis added)
Jesus’ prayer could be just repeated “as is”, but I think it would be better if the principles expressed in his prayer were uttered from your own stream of consciousness. Why? Well, because of verses five to eight. Would it be wrong to recite Jesus’ words? No, but I think the point is a quiet interaction with God; a private expression of your heart. Words learned by rote have the potential of being just something that is said and not an expression of the heart.
Whatever you say in prayer, I encourage you to follow the principles Jesus lays forth in his “model prayer”- they are magnificent!!
ps. I think I actually like the prayer from Stella Joan better than the one I learned in my youth.
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