Verse for the day: Matthew 6:7
What About Liturgical Prayer?
All worship and praise are due to our God for His mighty and wondrous works. As citizens of His kingdom, we will worship Him forever. When, by the revelation of the Spirit of God, we understand that His kingdom, power, and glory are forever, what other response can we give but worship Him? God Himself, His character, and all that He accomplishes on the earth are worthy of all glory. All that He is reverberates through eternity.
There seems little reason to believe that Jesus wanted His disciples to make His instruction in prayer some type of liturgical recitation (we have done this). Granted, there is something wonderful and inviting with much liturgical prayer, and the experience is so different for each person. But, Jesus had just warned His followers in Matthew 6:7 to not use meaningless repetitions. Jesus had no use for prayer that was limited to a synagogue, ceremony, or rote. No, He wants each one of us, personally and intimately, to understand and appreciate the great mystery of His creation and His Kingdom in prayer. Once we experience this revelation, there can be no other place to start or end prayer but with worship. Worship and prayer together become the gateway to His presence.