If you’ve ever participated in a Bible Study, you know there can be differences of opinion.
Each person sees things in the Word that others might not see.
Some revelations can be elaborate and other things quite simple.
It does not mean anyone is wrong.
God’s word is completely full. It is alive and it is always performing what God sends it forth to do.
In this Bible Study, there are usually between 40-50 people.
Some people talk a lot, even too much, while others sit back and don’t say anything at all.
Some state their opinions as fact and seem to think their opinions are the best,
with the attitude they have cracked the code.
None are the best.
Each person is learning from the Holy Spirit and learning what He wants them to see.
Perceptions are not wrong.
Such perceptions can be perceived as from babes but that does not make them wrong.
If God teaches one person one way, who are we to argue?
Yesterday, we were talking about the Lord’s Prayer.
There were varying opinions.
Jesus said, Pray like this.
But several said, He didn’t mean that, what He meant was this prayer was a model.
One lady said, I know if I pray that prayer, I am hitting all the points.
The main consensus was that Jesus doesn’t really want us to pray the Lord’s Prayer verbatim,
but, instead, He wants us to pray what the Lord’s Prayer means.
The discussion went on while the leader of the study allowed people to say what they thought
and to share their perspective or their opinion to honor what they thought Jesus was saying.
I have prayed the Lord’s Prayer just like it was written for years and years.
Long ago, I asked the Lord to give me a song for that prayer so that I could sing it to Him.
He did.
I sing it often.
When I don’t know what to pray, I will pray the Lord’s Prayer or sing it.
It is the Word of God.
It is how Jesus told us to pray.
We cannot go wrong by praying God’s word.
Oh, but someone said, that can become a ritual, where you’re not even paying attention.
To me, that is a different issue. That could happen with any prayer, anytime with any words.
That is a heart issue or a flesh issue, that is not because the prayer is faulty in and of itself.
I have go-tos. Maybe you do as well.
One is the Lord’s Prayer another is Romans 8:28
When all else has failed, I remember:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to His purpose.
I have faith that He will work all things together whenever there is a big mess.
He always does, no matter how many times I pray that prayer, which is His word.
I view it as a last resort or when things are so complex that no human can possibly fix it.
When there are too many emotions, too much at stake, too much to even comprehend,
God smooths the rough places and makes a way.
I pray Romans 8:28 because long ago,
God taught me that He really does work all things together for good for those who love Him,
and to those called according to His purpose.
He never fails.
I have seen His word in action many many times, far too many to count or even remember.
With the Lord’s Prayer, I have prayed this to invite His Kingdom on earth in a given situation,
for a given country, for any and all things we can imagine.
It is a most powerful prayer that covers just about everything you can think of needing to be addressed.
Paul also told us to pray in the spirit and that the Spirit intercedes for us.
There are directives given by the Lord in His word.
We miss it when we determine exactly what is meant
or have preconceived ideas of how others should pray
or how others should follow what the Lord has taught each of us.
That does not mean you cannot share what the Lord has taught you,
but that may or may not be for everyone.
That is what He taught you.
He also has things to teach them and if we tell them it has to be this way or that,
we could be hindering their relationship with Jesus.
The Moral of the Story?
We are free in Christ. Our walk is not determined by any one person or thought pattern.
Our walk with Jesus is by Jesus and for Jesus and His will. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36