Yesterday Mark wrapped up our series of messages on the Trinity by helping us think about Trinitarian Christian Living.  He showed us that God’s triune nature shapes the way we live in at least three ways:

1. God’s triune nature shapes the way we relate to God in prayer.
2. God’s triune nature shapes the way we relate to others in community.
3. God’s triune nature shapes the way we relate in marriage.

Ok, I realize that the third point doesn’t apply so much to the students in five15, but for most of you, it will.  For now, maybe it is best for us to focus on the first point.  I’ve found that paying attention to how I address God in prayer has a profound affect on my prayers by giving me confidence and clarity.  The best way to learn to do this is to study the prayers that are recorded for us in the Bible.  Here are a couple of my favorite examples.  Nehemiah started his prayer like this:

“And I said, ‘O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.’”  (Neh. 1:5-6)

Look at the way Daniel keeps referring to God in powerful ways throughout this excerpt of his prayer:

“I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.  To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.’” (Daniel 9:4-10)

And of course the guys in Manskool have memorized Revelation 1:5b-6,

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen”

Are there other verses that have helped you to address God rightly? 

Categories: Monday Matters