Many Muslims strive to please God by praying often and following the religious patterns prescribed by tradition, but Jesus has taught that a different kind of prayer is required.  His teaching is recorded in the Holy Injil.  Here is some of what He taught:

"When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly.  Then your Father, who knows all secrets will reward you." Matt 6:6  Jesus wants us to pray to our Father in Heaven looking for His approval, and not to look for the approval of other people.  Jesus also taught the following, "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do.  They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again.  Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" Matt 6:7

The teaching of Jesus is that God in Heaven who is our Father desires to hear our prayers.  He loves to listen to our sincere desires and He wants to answer our prayers.  Jesus taught us not to babble on, but to secretly go to God and ask for wisdom, and understanding and to know the ways of God.

One day some disciples came and asked about prayer (this story is told in the Holy Injil too)  "Once when Jesus had been out praying, one of His disciples came to Him as He finished and said, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'  Jesus said 'This is how you should pray:  Father, may Your Name be honoured.  May Your Kingdom come soon.  Give us our food day by day.  And forgive us our sins, just as we forgive those who have sinned against us.  And don't let us yield to temptation." Luke 11:1-4

Then Jesus taught more about prayer, He said "I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for.  Keep on looking, and you will find, Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.  For everyone who asks, receives.  Everyone who seeks, find. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks." Luke 11:9-10

The Injil teaches that we should pray for the Kingdom of God to come to earth, and that we should pray for our daily needs to be provided.  The Injil also teaches us that we should pray that our sins will be forgiven, and we should also forgive other people who commit sin against us.  Many Muslims do not understand that this is what God wants.  They think we must be good so that God will allow us into paradise, but God is willing to forgive us our sins if we ask Him.  In another part of the Injil it says "If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.  But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just and will forgive us and cleanse us from every wrong." 1 John 1:8-9.

How is this possible?  Surely we must work hard to be good to enter Paradise.  No, the teaching of Jesus is that we cannot enter paradise by our own efforts.  Even if we try our best, we will still fall far short of perfection.  We cannot ever please God through our own efforts.  The Injil says "But now God has shown us a different way of being right in His sight - not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the scriptures long ago.  We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus to take away our sins.  And we can be saved in this same way no matter who we are or what we have done.  For ALL have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard."  But fortunately, "God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins." Romans 3:21-23 & 25  Jesus did this for us through his death on the cross.  He was a replacement for us.  Because of our sins we deserve God's wrath and punishment, but because of God's great love and mercy, Jesus died in our place.  You can read more about this (here.)

Many Muslims try to earn merit with God by salat, but Jesus teaches us that prayer is not for earning merit, but for drawing near to God and for presenting our requests to Him.  I truly believe that today is a wonderful opportunity for you to believe that what Jesus has taught is true.  If you would be humble and accept his teachings and pray to God for the forgiveness of your sins, you will be cleansed..  The Bible says that because of Jesus we can be certain we will go to paradise, and also that God will send His presence to dwell in our hearts.  Today if you would like to find cleansing from your sins, here is a prayer you might use. 

"Jesus, I believe that what you have taught in the Holy Injil is true.  You said to ask for the forgiveness of our sins from God and that we will be forgiven.  Today I confess that I have done many wrong things.  I ask that you would come into my heart and renew cleanse me. May the presence of God come to dwell with me.  May my sins be forgiven and I ask that you would give me the certainty of being with you in paradise when I die.  Guide me in the paths of being right with God."

If you have prayed this prayer in sincerity, I would like to send you more information about the teachings of Jesus and about living a life that pleases God.  I will also pray for you that God guides you in the ways He has chosen for you.  If you would like this, please leave me your details and I will email you back soon.

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