Luke 11:1-4
“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ’ ””
Luke 11:1-4 NIV
In today’s fast-paced and tumultuous world, the principles embedded in the Lord’s Prayer remain as relevant as ever. It offers a timeless framework for seeking God’s guidance, acknowledging our dependence on Him, fostering forgiveness in relationships, and seeking His protection from temptation. By incorporating this prayer into our daily routine, we can cultivate a deeper connection with God and align our hearts with His will.
When a man or woman is a willing vessel, God can do mighty exploits through them. When a believer undertakes to abide in Christ and in a knowledge of Him, he will do so as he maintains unbroken fellowship with the Father. As sins are confessed and as we seek only to follow in the steps of our prayerful Saviour with joyful praise, grateful thanks, continuous fellowship, and powerful intercessions, we will learn how to pray in spirit and truth and so develop a prayer life that is both effective and honoring to our Father.
When a Christian desires to pray: "Lord, teach me to pray," he needs only to look to Jesus Who demonstrated throughout His entire life what it really means to pray.
Luke’s recounting of Jesus teaching on the Lord’s Prayer and I just want to give you really quickly, a way to remember what Jesus taught us to pray for in this prayer. They all start with G. So four G’s that Jesus just told us to pray for.
When you pray, say, “Father hallowed, be your name. Your kingdom come.” So the first thing we ask God for in prayer is His Glory. That’s the first G. Hallowed be your name. It’s not just an ascription of praise to God. That’s not just saying I worship you, God. That’s praying for God to be glorified throughout the world, for His Kingdom to come. For His Glory to spread over the earth, like the waters cover the sea.
Second, we ask God for His gifts. “Give us each day our daily bread.” We end prayer, ask God for His provision for our needs, for our daily needs. This is part of what we do in prayer is just lift up our hearts to God asking him for his gifts. That’s the second, glory, gifts.
Then ask God for His grace. “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” What we do in prayer is we ask God for His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness. We spend time in confession of our sin.
And then the final G ask God for His guidance. “And lead us not into temptation.” So we ask God to lead us in ways that glorify Him. To lead us in ways that are good for us that avoid sin and evil and live in the good, abundant life of joy, peace, hope, patience and love that Jesus has called us to live.
The first and often the most difficult step is to set time aside every day to speak with God. God will hear your prayer. He will answer your prayer with divine love and power. Even if the answer is not what we expected, be assured it is the best. Our heavenly Father is waiting to hear from us. He is waiting to use His power to help us. I believe the first 10 minutes of your day sets the tone for the whole day.
Reflecting on personal experiences, such as relying on the Lord’s Prayer during times of hardship or conflict, can illuminate its transformative power in our lives. By applying its principles in everyday situations, such as extending forgiveness or trusting God for daily provision, we can witness the profound impact of this prayer in shaping our attitudes and actions.
In conclusion, the Lord’s Prayer stands as a beacon of spiritual wisdom, guiding believers to approach God with reverence, dependence, forgiveness, and trust. I encourage you to embrace this prayer as a daily practice, allowing its profound truths to shape your relationship with God and others. Let us heed the call to incorporate the Lord’s Prayer into our lives, reflecting on its deeper meanings and allowing it to transform our hearts and minds.
Think of prayer like a daily check-in with a trusted mentor or family member. Just as you seek advice at work or comfort from loved ones, do the same with God!!!
Father, thank You for this day and we pray that in the power of Your Holy Spirit, we may live our lives as Christ lived His, in continuous, prayerful fellowship with You in heaven. Lord, let Your abundant blessings be my friend and family’s portion today. Lord, may we learn to live in total dependence upon You, only saying and doing those things that we hear from You. Lord, may we learn to walk daily in spirit and truth, living in submission to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit, and remaining in unbroken fellowship with You. May our lives become one of dependant humility, goodness, and grace, without compromising the good news of the gospel of God - but may we speak out the truth in goodness and love, to Your praise and glory.
Father, we love You. Amen !
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