As we were studying together, a word jumped off the page at me. It's a word that has been there all along. A word that I have called attention to often when I have taught this passage. A word that Max mentioned yesterday as he was leading our discussion.
Four little letters.
When......
The first part of Matthew 6 mentions more than prayer. It talks about fasting. And about giving. And in each case, there's that word. When.
Every translation of the Bible that I have checked this morning uses that word.
When.
Not a single translation that I could find uses the word if.
When makes an assumption. It assumes that you will fast. That you will give. That you will pray.
When you pray assumes you will pray.
When you pray....
What if we rearranged that sentence a little bit? (And I mean no disrespect to the Scriptures when I do this; I only wish to make a point.)
What if we thought of it this way: you pray when.....
When you are hurting.
When you are sorrowful.
When you are happy.
When you are thankful.
When you are facing a difficult health situation.
When you are anxious.
When you are concerned about your children or your grandchildren or your spouse.
When you are grieving.
When you have been misunderstood.
When someone twists your words to mean something you didn't say or intend.
When you are in pain.
When you are stressed financially.
When......
You can finish the sentence with whatever situations you are facing today.
When......
It's an important word to remember. Because Jesus intended our praying to be not if, but when.
The hymn writer Joseph Scriven said it well when he wrote these words:
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
"Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
"Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7 ESV)
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