Love and Prayer

What is a prayer? The best prayer according to me is the very same prayer taught by Jesus "Our Father who art in heaven..........." . When I say this prayer every time, I need to ask a question to myself.... Do I pray sincerely?.... it goes on to say " as I forgive those who sin against me....". Do I really forgive those who sinned against me before I sit down for my personal prayer? I may pray well in the church or in the prayer meetings, I may use excellent vocabularies to express and make my prayer appear good to everyone around me....but If I am not fully forgiving or loving sincerely,..... I don't know how that prayer is going to be presented to God....who sees my heart and even my deeper thoughts.

It is clearly said by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:1-11....that "I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or clanging bell. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move moutains- but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned- but if I have no love, this does me no good. Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope and patients never fail. Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass. For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial; but when what is perfect comes, the what is partial will disappear".

The Bible clearly says about the importance of sincere love, so that we may remain purified when we sit down for prayer and our prayers will be receivable at God's presence.

So dear friends, let us remind ourselves about the importance of loving one another..... and be forgiving to one another, so that we may experience that peace and remain holy in the sight of God. Let us be people of prayers...but before that carriers of LOVE.

Lord our God, help us to remain faithful and truthful to you and to everyone, so that we may come to you with a sincere and pure heart, acceptable to your sight. Help us to pray from within and experience your Godly love peace that You give to us freely. Strengthen our faith so that we may love you sincerely and see Jesus in everyone around us. God, bless us, guide and and be with us. Amen.