If we and those close to us are healthy and safe, if we have
a place to live, clothes to wear, food to eat, then we ought to give praise and
give thanks to God in our prayers.
Such prayers are called praise and thanksgiving.
If some kind of misfortune, sickness, or woe
happens or if we need something, then we must ask for God’s help.
These prayers are called petitions.
If we do something wrong, sin, and we are guilty
before God, then we must ask His forgiveness — repent.
These prayers are called penitential.
Since we are sinful before God (we constantly
sin), we must always, before we ask God for anything, first repent and then ask
God concerning our needs. This means that penitential prayer must always
precede our petitions in prayer.
Questions:
What must we offer to God when He sends us blessings? What are the prayers
called when we praise and thank God? What do we offer God in prayer when some
misfortune befalls us or we do something wrong?
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