I will start with probably the most well-known prayer in the Bible known as "The Lord's Prayer."
For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
Matthew 6:8-13
I am going to break it down line by line according to what it means to me.
"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name."
God is not only the literal Father to Jesus, but we can also claim Him as our spiritual Father when we accept Him as our Savior and live a righteous life. What an incredible privilege to be able to call the Creator of all things past, present, and future, our Father. For some, seeing God as a father-figure stands in the way of accepting God as good. They have a bad relationship with an absent or abusive father, and cannot accept God as loving and kind. If this is you, please realize God wants the best for His creation (For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11). Bad things that happen to us and others are the result of a fallen world, or man's desire to have a free will apart from God's love.
Although I have a good earthly father, it does not cancel out my need for a heavenly one. I am greatly saddened over my dad's many health problems, but I cannot compare my dad's earthly struggles with my heavenly father. God is not limited to a weak or mortal human body. He is all-powerful, all-knowing. He never sleeps and never gets tired. We can never over-burden Him, and He will never be overwhelmed or shocked by anything we place at His feet. He is a Father who wants us to always come to Him with our problems. He is all-resourceful, and when it meets His purpose and we are doing our best to live righteously, He will answer our prayers.
God's name is holy. 1 Peter 1:14-16 tells us, "as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'” I will repeat myself, God's name is holy. Therefore, we are called to be holy and strive to live clean lives. Our heavenly Father cannot tolerate looking at sin any more than an earthly father tolerates his son or daughter breaking his rules. Parents have been known to kick their children out of the house for going against the rules they set; do not expect a holy Father to do any less. Galatians 5:19-21 tells us very specifically what sins will keep us out of heaven; "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
"Your kingdom come."
"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name."
God is not only the literal Father to Jesus, but we can also claim Him as our spiritual Father when we accept Him as our Savior and live a righteous life. What an incredible privilege to be able to call the Creator of all things past, present, and future, our Father. For some, seeing God as a father-figure stands in the way of accepting God as good. They have a bad relationship with an absent or abusive father, and cannot accept God as loving and kind. If this is you, please realize God wants the best for His creation (For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11). Bad things that happen to us and others are the result of a fallen world, or man's desire to have a free will apart from God's love.
Although I have a good earthly father, it does not cancel out my need for a heavenly one. I am greatly saddened over my dad's many health problems, but I cannot compare my dad's earthly struggles with my heavenly father. God is not limited to a weak or mortal human body. He is all-powerful, all-knowing. He never sleeps and never gets tired. We can never over-burden Him, and He will never be overwhelmed or shocked by anything we place at His feet. He is a Father who wants us to always come to Him with our problems. He is all-resourceful, and when it meets His purpose and we are doing our best to live righteously, He will answer our prayers.
God's name is holy. 1 Peter 1:14-16 tells us, "as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'” I will repeat myself, God's name is holy. Therefore, we are called to be holy and strive to live clean lives. Our heavenly Father cannot tolerate looking at sin any more than an earthly father tolerates his son or daughter breaking his rules. Parents have been known to kick their children out of the house for going against the rules they set; do not expect a holy Father to do any less. Galatians 5:19-21 tells us very specifically what sins will keep us out of heaven; "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
"Your kingdom come."
We do not have to wait for the new heaven and earth to come in order for God's kingdom to come. The Kingdom of God should live inside us. We are to be the kingdom of heaven for others to see. Luke 17:20-21 says, Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” IF we are a good moral example to friends, family members, and co-workers, we show them the kingdom of God, and do our best to win souls to live eternally in the true heavenly kingdom with God.
"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
I could write all day on these two lines alone, but I will make it very simple and brief. People love to quote Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." As I stated above, God loves us and wants the best for us, so I also quote this verse often. However, please do not fail to focus on the end of the phrase, "to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." IF you do not love the Lord and are walking away from His paths of holiness, then do not expect all things to work out for you and then be angry when things do not go your way. You need to love, serve, and obey God in good times and in bad. Remember, not all unanswered prayers are rejection. What you are praying for may not be in His perfect will, and God may be protecting you from things you cannot or will not understand this side of heaven. Also consider James 5:16 that says, "The effectual fervent [having or displaying a passionate intensity] prayer of a righteous man availeth [benefits] much."
Give us this day our daily bread.
Our daily bread is the Word of God, and we must make an effort to read it as often as possible. We must also make a daily choice to live for Jesus as Luke 9:23 reminds us, "Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." When we spend time daily examining out hearts and reading our daily bread, God will meet our needs. This does not always include our wants, especially when they are self-serving or are outside of His perfect will.
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."
This can be the hardest issue of all for some. Oh, it is easy to ask God to forgive me, but to forgive others is the challenge. When you read the words directly after The Lord's Prayer, it makes it crystal clear: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15) If we want to be forgiven, we have to forgive others. Period. I one time asked God how to get over past hurts, and I heard Him audibly tell me, "Praise Me." My husband had a dream that same night that told him the exact same thing!
When we take the focus off ourselves and focus on loving Christ and His love for us, our heart will naturally begin to soften and heal toward others. Not over night, of course, but I have noticed a considerable difference in my attitude when I focus more on Christ, and less on me! John the Baptist was speaking of his followers changing their focus from him to Jesus when he said, "He must increase, but I must decrease."(John 3:30) but the same concept applies to our attitudes. When we decrease our self-centered focus we increase our Godly-focus and are much better spouses, friends, co-workers because of the shift in vanity.
"And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
We are all faced with many temptations throughout the course of lives. One of the most common are temptations as a Christian can be to give up and walk away from God when the going gets tough. This leads to many other temptations such as being disrespectful to God and others, independence from God and the Bible, clinging to the world rather than to Jesus, and temptations to go against God's rules (see again the verses from Galatians above). God, however, knows our weaknesses and The Bible promises that He will always give us many opportunities to escape all temptations.
We are all faced with many temptations throughout the course of lives. One of the most common are temptations as a Christian can be to give up and walk away from God when the going gets tough. This leads to many other temptations such as being disrespectful to God and others, independence from God and the Bible, clinging to the world rather than to Jesus, and temptations to go against God's rules (see again the verses from Galatians above). God, however, knows our weaknesses and The Bible promises that He will always give us many opportunities to escape all temptations.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. I Corinthians 10:13
All one needs to do is walk away. It really is that simple. Better yet, do not even get to the place where you need an escape. You would not intentionally walk across four lanes of heavy traffic at night in a big city wearing all black, so why would you put your relationship with God at risk. Whatever you are tempted by it is best to remove that temptation from your life. If you are addicted to pornography, turn off the Internet and television and do not pick up filthy magazines. If you are so tempted that you cannot even turn on the Internet without going to the ungodly sites, cancel your Internet service. That is just one example that people face, but I am sure you get the idea of how to fight the ungodly things in your life. Remember, you cannot do it alone, pray that the Holy Spirit enables you to succeed, and if you surrender your life to Him, He will help you.
Other than simply walking away from the things and people that tempt us, we need to pray a wall of protection against our family and ourselves. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he told them they should ask to be kept far away from unholy enticements. Remember to ask God to keep you from evil every day.
"For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen"
Can we really grasp the power and glory of God? On this side of Heaven, we cannot. God's power has literally knocked people to their knees. I am not speaking of false manifestations, but the True Holy Spirit is so powerful we cannot stand in His presence. Nor should we be so rebellious and disrespectful to the only one who is worthy if praise.
Only God deserves the glory and honor and praise. Not man, not a religious organization, but the blessed trinity, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
The best way I can think of to end this blog is to focus on God's power and glory. Please let these words sink in to the very fibers of your soul:
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sung a new song, saying, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."
And the four beasts said, "Amen." And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. Revelation 5:1-14
No comments:
Post a Comment