Hebrew Prayer
Unfortunately there is little justice that can be done herein to describe the importance and nature of prayer within the Hebraic perspective ... it is quite frankly a fundamental, communal, personal and mysterious aspect of the Messianic believer's life.
Within the Hebraic perspective it is indeed paramount that our entire life be a prayer ... an offering to G_D in and through Mashiach Yeshua with the heart of His own dear Ruach (Spirit)! As such prayer is a continual endeavor that manifests in how we work ... how we play ... and even how we think!
Within the Hebraic perspective and even in Holy Scriptures itself there are scores of words that are associated with prayer ... crying, groaning, pleading, shouting, praising, contemplating ... on and on. From a Hebraic perspective prayer is less about what I need ... or desire ... or want intervention for; and more about communicating with G_D in a deeply intimate manner to understand what it is that G_D wants of us!
Over the ages rabbinic scholars have conjectured that the key to prayer lies in the very root of the Hebrew word for prayer itself – tephilla. The root of tephilla is "palal". This root means “to judge, discern, differentiate, clarify and decide.” In other words, prayer is the means by which my own will comes to discern, clarify and differentiate God’s will. I pray so that I can be changed by my own words, so that I can through my own speech and resonance be transformed into G_D's likeness. I pray so that I can develop true perceptions about life in order that I may be prepared to receive what God’s will is for me. I pray in order to fit His desire ... I pray so that I can fit into His plan!
According to the rabbis prayer is not about what I want, what I need, what I desire. Prayer is about talking with God long enough so that I become suitable material for God to sew His will into me. The Hebraic perspective is that man becomes more human through conversation with the Creator. Prayer is the means by which I get closer to understanding G_D's personal desires for my own life and in so doing get closer to fulfilling my prime directive and being human ... acting in His image and likeness while stewarding HIS creation.
As Mashiach Yeshua revealed to us ... Abba in Heaven is aware of our needs! And we should still ask for those good things for our lives and loved ones! But ultimately the one thing that we only really need is the ability to understand and do His will! Naturally of course there are always certain things that we should indeed pray for ... family, community, Israel ... the peace of Jerusalem ... repentance by and mercy for the Nations ... these remain a given and conform to G_D's plan for restoration! As for the other stuff?
So when we pray do we ask for those things that are focused on us? Do we pray please G_D help with this or with that ... please G_D heal me or that person? Or do we pray as Mashiach taught us ... Abba in Heaven; Thy Kingdom come (through me) ... Thy will be done (through me) ... and while we are at it Abba ... please let me know what You want me to do for You! Our awesome G_D has mysteriously set things up so that it is through us that He manifests. Undoubtedly G_D can and does act ... He does intervene but it is most often through His children ... through His Kingdom citizens that the day to day promulgation of the Kingdom takes place.
The bottom line ... we all have a long way to go before we can become a real prayer warrior - a prayer liver ... or at least so in a Hebraic sense. It begins with understanding what prayer is all about. Perhaps the popular Hebrew prayers provided via the left side navigation panel will shed some light on how the Hebrew mind approaches prayer. To the Hebrew... prayer is an exercise in getting closer to G_D one on one so that the individual's life can benefit the Kingdom!
Shalom Aleichem ... P.R. Otokletos
Please note as well that contained within the Mo'adim (Appointed Times) materials provided at this web-site ... such as the Shabbat Siddur for example ... are some of these same prayers as well as others. May they prove to be a blessing for you as they have for me!