By Dennis DeHaan, Our Daily Bread Author
Plato, the Greek philosopher, borrowed from an ancient poet a prayer that he said best expresses the way we shortsighted mortals should pray. Although the prayer was to a pagan deity, it has a lesson for us. It goes like this: "Give us those things which are best, whether we pray for them or not; but command evil things to remain at a distance from us, even though we implore them (beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something)."
The insight of that philosopher is also seen in the Bible, only with a clearer and more specific focus. Centuries before Plato, Agur fully understood that wise praying must be based on truth and a desire to bring glory to the Almighty. He asked God to grant him two things before he died: "Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches" (Proverbs 30:8).
Agur longed for integrity and contentment. That desire included his willingness to have God veto anything that might cause him to become self-sufficient and forget the Lord, or to make him a thief and thus profane God's name (Proverbs 30:9).
Plato focused on what is best for us, but Agur went a step further. He wanted what was best for himself, but only if it would reflect God's glory. That's the wise way to pray.
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Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches. - Proverbs 30:8
Read: Proverbs 30:1-9
Picture posted by Pooja Manda, Pinterest
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Proverbs_30_8.png
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Plato, the Greek philosopher, borrowed from an ancient poet a prayer that he said best expresses the way we shortsighted mortals should pray. Although the prayer was to a pagan deity, it has a lesson for us. It goes like this: "Give us those things which are best, whether we pray for them or not; but command evil things to remain at a distance from us, even though we implore them (beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something)."
Picture posted by Expressum on Sunday, 19 December 2021 at 11:06 pm
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The insight of that philosopher is also seen in the Bible, only with a clearer and more specific focus. Centuries before Plato, Agur fully understood that wise praying must be based on truth and a desire to bring glory to the Almighty. He asked God to grant him two things before he died: "Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches" (Proverbs 30:8).
Picture posted by Pagină personală (Personal page) on 03 December 2018
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https://valeriughiletchi.md/unitatea-din-perspectiva-biblica/
Agur longed for integrity and contentment. That desire included his willingness to have God veto anything that might cause him to become self-sufficient and forget the Lord, or to make him a thief and thus profane God's name (Proverbs 30:9).
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Plato focused on what is best for us, but Agur went a step further. He wanted what was best for himself, but only if it would reflect God's glory. That's the wise way to pray.
Picture posted by Giuseppa Tripoli on 29 March 2023
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https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-avoid-taking-cliche-wedding-photos/answer/Giuseppa-Tripoli
Picture posted by Giuseppa Tripoli on 29 March 2023
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https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-avoid-taking-cliche-wedding-photos/answer/Giuseppa-Tripoli
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/03/why-you-never-bring-me-along-ya-hui-ya.html
We can't presume to know what's best
When we begin to pray;
So we must ask: "What honors God?"
And seek His will and way. - Sper
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Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 48, "A Wise Way To Pray", Page 56.
By Dennis DeHaan, Our Daily Bread Author
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html
"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries
Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/04/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-1-45.html
New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 30:1-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+30%3A1-9&version=NIV
Proverbs 30:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+30%3A8&version=NIV
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- https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-avoid-taking-cliche-wedding-photos/answer/Giuseppa-Tripoli
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/03/why-you-never-bring-me-along-ya-hui-ya.html
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