Lord's Prayer - Matthew 6:9-14
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Reflection:
After clarifying motives for praying,Jesus now gives a model for prayer saying, "this then is how you should pray." In this prayer there are six simple petitions that address our relationship with God. They include: His character, His plan, His provision, and also the protection we will need if we are serious about advancing His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Remember the Sermon on the Mount is all about how do we participate in the kingdom and here Jesus gives us specific instruction on how we can be effective in bringing about the changes according to God's will.
In this simple prayer, we really have all we need to know about prayer, what we need, and what God supplies. It is really quite brilliant. And, of course, since Jesus is the smartest guy on the earth it might make sense to take his lead on how to pray. We start the prayer by acknowledging God properly. That He is our Heavenly Father and that He is holy. God is unlike us in that He is perfectly holy, so that as we go to Him we need to recognize how altogether different He is than us. But God has called us into relationship with Him through the Son and forgiven all of our sins so we can confidence to go God without fear of condemnation.
There is no condemnation in Christ, so we can cry "Abba Father" or "Daddy" God already knows our needs, but in prayer we actualize our dependence on Him and reliance on Him for daily bread. Daily bread is everything we need. Notice not what we want but need. So everyday as you pray the Lord's prayer when you get to this petition you can offer up any worry you have, or need you have, and know the Father will provide in His way and in His timing.
And as we daily pray this prayer it is a time to confess the sins we know about and receive forgiveness and then also forgive those who sin against us. Notice it is impossible to receive forgiveness for a multitude of sins and then turn around and say, "No I will not forgive you!"
Finally, each day we can pray that we will not be lead into temptation, but be delivered from the evil one who is always looking to discourage us and make us doubt that God really does care about us. Every day we rebuke his influence in our lives and pray for discernment to quickly discern his schemes so that we do not have to walk in doubt or discouragement.
Let me just say that you may have said this prayer by rote and it meant nothing. But i think you will find as you make this your daily prayer that you will live into it in deeper ways and see that it really reflects everything you need in prayer from God and for your life. Say it over and over. Stop on each petition and offer something up regarding it. Or spend longer time in the petition you need that day! It works if you work it!
Jesus thank you for teaching us how to pray, now let us be about praying unceasingly and completely relying on you for our Daily Bread today and every day. Deliver us from the evil one and lead us not into temptation that we may advance your kingdom that has no end! Amen.
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Reflection:
After clarifying motives for praying,Jesus now gives a model for prayer saying, "this then is how you should pray." In this prayer there are six simple petitions that address our relationship with God. They include: His character, His plan, His provision, and also the protection we will need if we are serious about advancing His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Remember the Sermon on the Mount is all about how do we participate in the kingdom and here Jesus gives us specific instruction on how we can be effective in bringing about the changes according to God's will.
In this simple prayer, we really have all we need to know about prayer, what we need, and what God supplies. It is really quite brilliant. And, of course, since Jesus is the smartest guy on the earth it might make sense to take his lead on how to pray. We start the prayer by acknowledging God properly. That He is our Heavenly Father and that He is holy. God is unlike us in that He is perfectly holy, so that as we go to Him we need to recognize how altogether different He is than us. But God has called us into relationship with Him through the Son and forgiven all of our sins so we can confidence to go God without fear of condemnation.
There is no condemnation in Christ, so we can cry "Abba Father" or "Daddy" God already knows our needs, but in prayer we actualize our dependence on Him and reliance on Him for daily bread. Daily bread is everything we need. Notice not what we want but need. So everyday as you pray the Lord's prayer when you get to this petition you can offer up any worry you have, or need you have, and know the Father will provide in His way and in His timing.
And as we daily pray this prayer it is a time to confess the sins we know about and receive forgiveness and then also forgive those who sin against us. Notice it is impossible to receive forgiveness for a multitude of sins and then turn around and say, "No I will not forgive you!"
Finally, each day we can pray that we will not be lead into temptation, but be delivered from the evil one who is always looking to discourage us and make us doubt that God really does care about us. Every day we rebuke his influence in our lives and pray for discernment to quickly discern his schemes so that we do not have to walk in doubt or discouragement.
Let me just say that you may have said this prayer by rote and it meant nothing. But i think you will find as you make this your daily prayer that you will live into it in deeper ways and see that it really reflects everything you need in prayer from God and for your life. Say it over and over. Stop on each petition and offer something up regarding it. Or spend longer time in the petition you need that day! It works if you work it!
Jesus thank you for teaching us how to pray, now let us be about praying unceasingly and completely relying on you for our Daily Bread today and every day. Deliver us from the evil one and lead us not into temptation that we may advance your kingdom that has no end! Amen.
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