What Do We Believe? Prayer

Saint Matthew's Churches believes individuals should set aside a time and place for God and for prayer in their homes. Saint Matthews invites our members and their neighbors to join us in kneeling before God in prayer, and we send, to our members and their neighbors, a free symbolic prayer rug to remind them to join us in kneeling and humbling ourselves before our holy God in prayer.

Saint Matthew's Churches will always encourage people to pray. Religious bigots or anti-Christs, anti-church, anti-prayer and anti-God fringe elements of our society will always criticize prayer and anything that has to do with Jesus Christ.

Saint Matthews Churches is just getting started. The church is going to purchase more gospel books and biblical prayer reminders (prayer rugs) and mail them to as many people as the church has postage to do so. People who receive a sermon from Saint Matthews Churches that don't believe it will help them should just throw it away. If any person asks for their name to be removed from the church's files, it is removed.

Jesus Taught Us To Pray

Jesus Christ spent much of his time in prayer. In the gospel of Luke, we read that on one occasion Jesus was asked by his disciples how to pray. You will find that He taught them this prayer:

"Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation." Amen.
St. Luke 11:2-4

A traditional version:

"Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
(St. Matthew 6:9-13):

Suggested Prayers:

To help you start praying, we have suggested a number of prayers that will help you to speak to God. When you pray regularly, you will soon want to add prayers in your own words.

Before Reading From the Scriptures:
Dear God, as I read your book, help me to understand what you want to show me today. As I learn more of you, give me the desire to live the way you teach. Amen

In Search of Faith:
Dear God, I find it difficult to know what to believe. Help me to accept that even though I can't understand everything, I can always trust you and what you say in the Bible. Amen

Seeking Guidance:
Lord God, as I read your book and pray, help me to know your way, which will always be right for me, and then to make the right decisions. Amen

When Needing Comfort:
Dear God, you know and understand everything, even when I feel ill, afraid, lonely, anxious, sad or stressed. Help me now to trust you because you love me and promise to be with me always. Amen

When Conscious of Sin:
Dear God, I admit that sometimes I do things which are wrong and cause distress to you and others. I am sorry. Please help me to accept the forgiveness that you offer through Jesus Christ. Amen

A Christian Commitment:
Dear God, I confess that I have done wrong. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, took the punishment that I deserve by dying on the cross. I also believe that you raised him from the dead. Thank you. I now receive Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Amen

Acknowledging God's Goodness:
Thank you, Lord God, for all you have given us in the world, for its beauty and for all the good things we enjoy. But, I thank you most of all for loving me and for your promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Please help me to share these blessings with others. Amen