WOW!!!! An absolutely brilliant and accessible introduction to prayer. I hope Bishop Wright continues this theme. I love his first words. When people ask "How should I pray" and his answer is: constantly!
We're glad you are encouraged @rrickarr. You may like a free Bible plan we developed based on N.T. Wright's online course on "The Lord's Prayer." Here is the link to the free Bible plan: www.admirato.org/courses/praying-through-the-lords-prayer We hope you enjoy it! --NTW Online Team
Thank you very much Professor Wright for your exposure to Christian prayer. Sometimes I think that we lose our way when praying, we ask continually, but we ask badly for our pleasures. We use the term faith very lightly as if faith were desiring and obtaining instantly. Without realizing that faith is fidelity, loyalty to the will of the heavenly Father, although sometimes we do not like to suffer. That is why I affirm that the model of the Lord's prayer connects us with reality, and we learn to harmonize with the Creator and our neighbors. Some repeat the Lord's Prayer like a mantra without being aware of their surroundings, and without knowing that it is being uttered. It's not that, there is an order of priorities in this life.
Thank you for sharing your reflections with us. If you'd like to explore this topic further, we offer a free Bible plan based on N.T. Wright's online course on The Lord's Prayer: www.admirato.org/courses/praying-through-the-lords-prayer We'd love to know what you think! --NTW Online Team
Amen! Glory to God. I love how Hanna prayed. Her lips moved but she never said a word, being full the Holy Spirit the prophet Eli thought she was drunk of wine but he didn’t understood the wine she was filled with with.
So well put! NT's concise yet comprehensive and appropriately inclusive overview is profound. God prevent pride; but his humble and considerate style empowers what he says. I would love him as my pastor (if the church also reached out to Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, etc...)
What a wonderful (Christmas) gift from God is the inspirational expounding of His word and purposes through Professor Wright’s inspirational analysis on the divine connection between us and our Lord: prayer and praying! Truly 1 Peter 4:11
Tom, I love your videos. One thing I have done, that God told me to do, was make a Prayer List. He told me to put names on it and that He knew all of them and He knows their needs. Now instead of trying to remember everyone I feel I need to pray for, I can say one Prayer that covers them all. It was like a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders, when I made my list. And I am adding names to it quite often. It may not work for everyone, but it sure has for me! God Bless you Sir today and always!☝
Prayer isn’t easy to describe or explain. You did a great job helping us to understand the how and even the when and why of prayer. I have found that the more I pray (over time), the easier it is to pray. Much like a person you meet. At first conversation is difficult, but over time, and the more we get to know our friend, the easier it is to set down in the middle and take up where we last left off.
😉 “coincidences…” I am so thankful for those “coincidences….” For example, like this vid coming up in my notifications right after a session of reflecting on the nature and substance of my prayers…😊 Adonai is so good!
Earlier today on another channel, I posted a text from Isaiah 58 using my own translation which I had produced previously for my own Jewish context. As such, I translated the Tetragrammaton as "Adonai." But when I looked at my post afterward, I suddenly wondered if the people who frequent that channel (mainly Christians), would recognize and know that word, or if I should change it to "the Lord." I decided to leave it as written.
Thank you SO much for one of the most encouraging and inspiring talks on Prayer I have ever heard. May God bless you and uphold you in your ministry Our world needs us to stand at the intersection right now with great earnestness and humility, with faith and total trust "Our Father "
We are grateful to hear your reflections, Kay. We are grateful to pray with you in the same heart and for the same goals in the Lord. --NTW Online Team
Everything that N.T Wright teaches on and what the whole team on N.T Wright online is doing, is worth listening to and always great, but I think this short video really touched my heart today. Not that I am wondering on how to pray, but on how soothing and calm this message was. Keep up the good work....
I'm new to prayer. I'm 52 and I'm lost and incredibly lonely. I also feel incredibly empty with no real friends and an estranged family. I want to have a relationship with God the heavenly father. I don't know what posture to use or if I should follow Jesus and his teachings first. I know I want to be honest and sincere with God. I want to ask for his guidance and protection. I want a real friend. A friend who loves me. So I'm new at this and found this video to watch.
Thank you for your advice. Unfortunately I have social anxiety. But yes thank you, maybe someday I'll be able to go to church. In the meantime I'm going to try to establish a relationship with God on my own. I know it's not ideal but hopefully I find my path none the less
We're glad you found us and I hope you are encouraged here. Along with the free teaching videos we offer on this TH-cam channel, we also offer free courses, Bible plans, eBooks and a community designed to engage with the resources in discussion with one another on our platform, Admirato.org. If you'd like to say "hi" and engage in our conversations there please sign up! www.admirato.org/bundles/free --NTW Online Team
@@NTWrightOnline thank you so much for your kindness, I really do appreciate it. It makes me feel good even though I'm personally struggling right now, to know that there are people out there who care. I'll definitely be checking out those links VERY soon. Again thank you so much for your kindness!
Thank you. I pray because is says to do so in the New Testament and Jesus says we should. However, God already knows our needs, wants and thoughts, so verbalizing these sometimes doesn’t make sense. I know a devote Christian who, after every mass shooting, prays that these incidents will end, yet votes for people who do not want even the most minimalist of gun regulation. I have worked with homeless people who are Christians and have amazing faith, especially considering their circumstances, who pray constantly pray for a change to their situation, but remain homeless for years. I know Christians who pray constantly for the poor, yet the poor remain. So is prayer more about our spiritual circumstances, rather than physical? Often, our prayer seems similar to praying that we get an “A” on a test, but don’t study. The pastor at a church I used to attend said that our main goal as Christians is not to help the poor, but we should pray constantly for them. When I suggested that prayer does not seem to be helping the physical needs of the poor, he said I should redouble my efforts to pray for them. When I said, shouldn’t we be helping the poor more than asking God to help them? He said something to the effect that God helps those who help themselves, and to keep praying. There is then the classic: One devote Christian prays for something and the other devote Christian prays for the opposite of that something. I know so many good Christian people who pray for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on topics who come to the opposite conclusion of other Christian people regarding the same topics.
Another classic…a faithful Christian prays incessantly for something such healing of cancer in a two year old and the child dies. The praying Christian then says, “it was God’s will.” Thus, instead of praying for specifics, should we just pray the God’s will be done in each person in the world (like the Lord’s Prayer) and be that our only prayer?
Beautiful! I come from a Pentecostal tradition, though doing my very best to gain from other traditions. Long before I ever came across Tom or anyone in the scholarly tradition, I became convinced of this: "Praying in the Spirit begins with praying honestly." And praying in an unknown tongue can be understood as "mumbling in all honesty the burdens of our hearts when we have no intelligent words."
The wickedness is more over here than it is over there. In terms of cruel and warmongering leaders, that's our leaders far more than it's "their" leaders. Especially bearing in mind the Biblical definition of wickedness.
I was absolutely gobsmacked when I read “pray constantly”. How on earth can anyone do that?! If you can keep your thoughts running silently in your mind by talking to yourself you can certainly direct them to God. Now, simply include God into the conversation. Instead of talking to myself I’m always talking to God. He cares so much about you he wants to hear about every aspect of your life. If it’s important to you he wants to hear about it. Let God guide you. Your life will be much better for it. The power of prayer! Psalm 32:8
Of course I have reverential prayer at the beginning of the day with gratitude for God’s grace and glory, however, the above is an opportunity to invite God into every moment. He is always with you and shall never leave you. Hallelujah, amen!
Prayer is, "standing at the intersection of heaven and earth." I like that description. Thank you. Prayer to me is the continual acknowledgment of God in all things. It looks God eye-to-eye as did Job and often goes something like this: "This is what I think. What do you think?" It needs to be emphasized that prayer has no protocol. At best it strips away the religious pretense with an honest exchange. It's as much, "Why have you forsaken me?" as the gratitude of "I shall not want." In this way, God's kingdom isn't just coming. It's at hand.
Just say, Father, and talk to Him. (Maybe that’s why Jesus told us not to call anyone Father, because it addresses Him. A-lot of phone calls with no-one on the other line, or a butt dial for you young’ins ) Talk to Him, ask Him anything you want! But you must be true (honest, with yourself and Him) Remember, you are His child, a servant, what does He want you to do? You are the only thing standing in your own way. When you start getting answers, you’ll know He is real, it won’t be a coincidence. Go to Him for everything!
Jesus lied about prayer. He said anything you ask in his name will be granted. If that was the case we wouldn’t need children hospitals. Science performed studies on prayer concluding a fifty fifty result.
How Should I Pray? _____________ You shouldn't pray. An unlimited, omnipotent, omniscient and timeless entity doesn't need of the mumblings of a few of his creatures. And do those creatures need to pray? Nope. Doing so implies that whatever plan the Almighty has laid out was inadequate to your desires.
As Tom said at the end of the video: "prayer means joining in." The Almighty made humans for a purpose, at the least to join in on his larger purposes for everything else He made.
@@LittleChap-r4u There's no presumption here. We are not pointless creatures. We get to do something, either for or against God's work in his world. I'll take my best guess to say it's for, which is the same as taking part in his work. And prayer is the most humble task that falls to us. For one thing, it acknowledges that we can do nothing except that which God does through us.
James 5:17 tells us that prayer makes a difference. It was God's sovereign choice to tell us what to do and give us the choice of whether or not to obey him. Jesus and his disciples told us to pray, and that without ceasing.
WOW!!!! An absolutely brilliant and accessible introduction to prayer. I hope Bishop Wright continues this theme. I love his first words. When people ask "How should I pray" and his answer is: constantly!
We're glad you are encouraged @rrickarr. You may like a free Bible plan we developed based on N.T. Wright's online course on "The Lord's Prayer." Here is the link to the free Bible plan: www.admirato.org/courses/praying-through-the-lords-prayer We hope you enjoy it!
--NTW Online Team
Tom Wright is truly a gift from God. Truly a man of God, in my estimation.
Thank you for your encouragement and support!
--NTW Online Team
Standing at the intersection of Heaven and Earth. God help us, Yes!
Thank you very much Professor Wright for your exposure to Christian prayer. Sometimes I think that we lose our way when praying, we ask continually, but we ask badly for our pleasures. We use the term faith very lightly as if faith were desiring and obtaining instantly. Without realizing that faith is fidelity, loyalty to the will of the heavenly Father, although sometimes we do not like to suffer. That is why I affirm that the model of the Lord's prayer connects us with reality, and we learn to harmonize with the Creator and our neighbors. Some repeat the Lord's Prayer like a mantra without being aware of their surroundings, and without knowing that it is being uttered. It's not that, there is an order of priorities in this life.
Thank you for sharing your reflections with us. If you'd like to explore this topic further, we offer a free Bible plan based on N.T. Wright's online course on The Lord's Prayer: www.admirato.org/courses/praying-through-the-lords-prayer We'd love to know what you think!
--NTW Online Team
Amen! Glory to God. I love how Hanna prayed. Her lips moved but she never said a word, being full the Holy Spirit the prophet Eli thought she was drunk of wine but he didn’t understood the wine she was filled with with.
So well put! NT's concise yet comprehensive and appropriately inclusive overview is profound. God prevent pride; but his humble and considerate style empowers what he says. I would love him as my pastor (if the church also reached out to Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, etc...)
This was a great introduction to pray. I agree that it is as us we are standing in the between heaven and earth.
It takes faith and hope to stand in that place between heaven and earth. We're glad you are encouraged to meet the Lord there.
--NTW Online Team
Thank you for this wonderful message on prayer 🙏 God bless❤️✝️
Blessings to you, too! Thank you for your encouragement.
@ your very welcome and thank you so much!
What a wonderful (Christmas) gift from God is the inspirational expounding of His word and purposes through Professor Wright’s inspirational analysis on the divine connection between us and our Lord: prayer and praying! Truly 1 Peter 4:11
We're glad you are encouraged, a gift indeed.
--NTW Online Team
Thank you so much, prof. Wright. A Merry and Blessed Christmas to all at NT Wright Online from South Africa
Thank you for your Christmas blessings! We hope every blessing for you in the New Year, too.
--NTW Online Team
Tom, I love your videos. One thing I have done, that God told me to do, was make a Prayer List. He told me to put names on it and that He knew all of them and He knows their needs. Now instead of trying to remember everyone I feel I need to pray for, I can say one Prayer that covers them all. It was like a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders, when I made my list. And I am adding names to it quite often. It may not work for everyone, but it sure has for me! God Bless you Sir today and always!☝
Thank you for your encouragement, @guzzi95 We're glad you found encouragement in your prayers.
--NTW Online Team
Prayer isn’t easy to describe or explain. You did a great job helping us to understand the how and even the when and why of prayer. I have found that the more I pray (over time), the easier it is to pray. Much like a person you meet. At first conversation is difficult, but over time, and the more we get to know our friend, the easier it is to set down in the middle and take up where we last left off.
Well put! Thanks, Betty.
--NTW Online Team
😉 “coincidences…” I am so thankful for those “coincidences….” For example, like this vid coming up in my notifications right after a session of reflecting on the nature and substance of my prayers…😊
Adonai is so good!
How encouraging!
--NTW Online Team
Earlier today on another channel, I posted a text from Isaiah 58 using my own translation which I had produced previously for my own Jewish context. As such, I translated the Tetragrammaton as "Adonai." But when I looked at my post afterward, I suddenly wondered if the people who frequent that channel (mainly Christians), would recognize and know that word, or if I should change it to "the Lord." I decided to leave it as written.
Thank you SO much for one of the most encouraging and inspiring talks on Prayer I have ever heard. May God bless you and uphold you in your ministry Our world needs us to stand at the intersection right now with great earnestness and humility, with faith and total trust "Our Father "
We are grateful to hear your reflections, Kay. We are grateful to pray with you in the same heart and for the same goals in the Lord.
--NTW Online Team
Amen, great message. I enjoyed the part about growing wisdom through diffrent traditions of prayer. ⚡️🙏⚡️ Jesus you are my Lord!!!!!! ❤🕊
This is so encouraging!
--NTW Online Team
Thank you Bishop Wright
Thank you, Charles, for your support.
--NTW Online Team
Thank you NT Wright...Merry Christmas to you & your family as well as everyone @ NT Wright Online 😊
Thank you! Christmas blessings to you, too!
--NTW Online Team
Amen! Great segment on prayer and encouragement to pray. Blessings to you!
Thank you, Sharon Louise! Blessings to you as you continue to "pray without ceasing."
--NTW Online Team
Outstanding guidance
Thank you for your encouragement @K6TJO!
--NTW Online Team
Thank you for all of N T Wright’s teaching. Thank you, N T Wright. Merry Christmas!
Thank you! And blessings to you in the New Year.
--NTW Online Team
Thank you so much for this video. I very much appreciate your insight! God bless you all!
Thank you, Melissa! We're grateful for your encouragement!
--NTW Online Team
Not really an NT fan, but he got this one. Thank you sir..
Thank you HS for letting me hear..
Thank you for sharing this encouragement with us. Blessings to your on your journey.
--NTW Online Team
Everything that N.T Wright teaches on and what the whole team on N.T Wright online is doing, is worth listening to and always great, but I think this short video really touched my heart today. Not that I am wondering on how to pray, but on how soothing and calm this message was. Keep up the good work....
How encouraging this is to hear @chihun1, thank you.
--NTW Online Team
thank you 🙏
I'm new to prayer. I'm 52 and I'm lost and incredibly lonely. I also feel incredibly empty with no real friends and an estranged family. I want to have a relationship with God the heavenly father. I don't know what posture to use or if I should follow Jesus and his teachings first. I know I want to be honest and sincere with God. I want to ask for his guidance and protection. I want a real friend. A friend who loves me. So I'm new at this and found this video to watch.
I would recommend going to church and going often 😊
Thank you for your advice.
Unfortunately I have social anxiety. But yes thank you, maybe someday I'll be able to go to church. In the meantime I'm going to try to establish a relationship with God on my own. I know it's not ideal but hopefully I find my path none the less
We're glad you found us and I hope you are encouraged here. Along with the free teaching videos we offer on this TH-cam channel, we also offer free courses, Bible plans, eBooks and a community designed to engage with the resources in discussion with one another on our platform, Admirato.org. If you'd like to say "hi" and engage in our conversations there please sign up! www.admirato.org/bundles/free
--NTW Online Team
@@NTWrightOnline thank you so much for your kindness, I really do appreciate it. It makes me feel good even though I'm personally struggling right now, to know that there are people out there who care.
I'll definitely be checking out those links VERY soon. Again thank you so much for your kindness!
Wonderful! Please reach out to us at contact@admirato.org with any questions!
--NTW Online Team
Thank you Tom.
Thank you. Happy Advent and Christmas. God bless.
Thank you and blessings to you in the New Year!
--NTW Online Team
Thank you. I pray because is says to do so in the New Testament and Jesus says we should. However, God already knows our needs, wants and thoughts, so verbalizing these sometimes doesn’t make sense.
I know a devote Christian who, after every mass shooting, prays that these incidents will end, yet votes for people who do not want even the most minimalist of gun regulation.
I have worked with homeless people who are Christians and have amazing faith, especially considering their circumstances, who pray constantly pray for a change to their situation, but remain homeless for years. I know Christians who pray constantly for the poor, yet the poor remain. So is prayer more about our spiritual circumstances, rather than physical? Often, our prayer seems similar to praying that we get an “A” on a test, but don’t study.
The pastor at a church I used to attend said that our main goal as Christians is not to help the poor, but we should pray constantly for them. When I suggested that prayer does not seem to be helping the physical needs of the poor, he said I should redouble my efforts to pray for them. When I said, shouldn’t we be helping the poor more than asking God to help them? He said something to the effect that God helps those who help themselves, and to keep praying.
There is then the classic: One devote Christian prays for something and the other devote Christian prays for the opposite of that something. I know so many good Christian people who pray for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on topics who come to the opposite conclusion of other Christian people regarding the same topics.
Another classic…a faithful Christian prays incessantly for something such healing of cancer in a two year old and the child dies. The praying Christian then says, “it was God’s will.” Thus, instead of praying for specifics, should we just pray the God’s will be done in each person in the world (like the Lord’s Prayer) and be that our only prayer?
Some one once said, don't lie when you pray.
Beautiful!
I come from a Pentecostal tradition, though doing my very best to gain from other traditions.
Long before I ever came across Tom or anyone in the scholarly tradition, I became convinced of this:
"Praying in the Spirit begins with praying honestly."
And praying in an unknown tongue can be understood as "mumbling in all honesty the burdens of our hearts when we have no intelligent words."
Amen and amen!!!
The wickedness is more over here than it is over there. In terms of cruel and warmongering leaders, that's our leaders far more than it's "their" leaders. Especially bearing in mind the Biblical definition of wickedness.
I was absolutely gobsmacked when I read “pray constantly”. How on earth can anyone do that?!
If you can keep your thoughts running silently in your mind by talking to yourself you can certainly direct them to God. Now, simply include God into the conversation. Instead of talking to myself I’m always talking to God. He cares so much about you he wants to hear about every aspect of your life. If it’s important to you he wants to hear about it. Let God guide you. Your life will be much better for it. The power of prayer! Psalm 32:8
Of course I have reverential prayer at the beginning of the day with gratitude for God’s grace and glory, however, the above is an opportunity to invite God into every moment. He is always with you and shall never leave you. Hallelujah, amen!
This is helpful and so encouraging, thank you for sharing your thoughts!
--NTW Online Team
Wishing You merry Christmas and happy, healthy, wealthy years ahead N. T. Wright.
Thank you for your kind words. We hope the same for you!
--NTW Online Team
@NTWrightOnline amen, thanks.
Prayer is, "standing at the intersection of heaven and earth." I like that description. Thank you.
Prayer to me is the continual acknowledgment of God in all things. It looks God eye-to-eye as did Job and often goes something like this: "This is what I think. What do you think?" It needs to be emphasized that prayer has no protocol. At best it strips away the religious pretense with an honest exchange. It's as much, "Why have you forsaken me?" as the gratitude of "I shall not want." In this way, God's kingdom isn't just coming. It's at hand.
Many are willing to pray. Not that many are willing to live out their prayers.
(Mt 7:16 - You’ll be able to tell them by the fruit they bear)
Just say, Father, and talk to Him. (Maybe that’s why Jesus told us not to call anyone Father, because it addresses Him. A-lot of phone calls with no-one on the other line, or a butt dial for you young’ins ) Talk to Him, ask Him anything you want! But you must be true (honest, with yourself and Him) Remember, you are His child, a servant, what does He want you to do? You are the only thing standing in your own way. When you start getting answers, you’ll know He is real, it won’t be a coincidence. Go to Him for everything!
Or mother?
@ heretic
Jesus lied about prayer. He said anything you ask in his name will be granted. If that was the case we wouldn’t need children hospitals. Science performed studies on prayer concluding a fifty fifty result.
How Should I Pray? _____________ You shouldn't pray. An unlimited, omnipotent, omniscient and timeless entity doesn't need of the mumblings of a few of his creatures. And do those creatures need to pray? Nope. Doing so implies that whatever plan the Almighty has laid out was inadequate to your desires.
As Tom said at the end of the video: "prayer means joining in."
The Almighty made humans for a purpose, at the least to join in on his larger purposes for everything else He made.
@@MuyiwaMonehin Presuming you know the purpose of our making is pure blasphemy.
@@LittleChap-r4u
There's no presumption here.
We are not pointless creatures. We get to do something, either for or against God's work in his world.
I'll take my best guess to say it's for, which is the same as taking part in his work.
And prayer is the most humble task that falls to us.
For one thing, it acknowledges that we can do nothing except that which God does through us.
James 5:17 tells us that prayer makes a difference.
It was God's sovereign choice to tell us what to do and give us the choice of whether or not to obey him. Jesus and his disciples told us to pray, and that without ceasing.
It is a privilege to be somewhat involved in God intervening to bless all of us in our helplessness.