Matt 6:9-13: "In this manner, therefore, 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 this day our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.13 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.”
Prayer is one of the greatest gifts to humankind that God has given to us. It is a way that we can communicate and be in instant contact with the God of this universe. This prayer is sometimes referred to as “the Lord’s prayer” and is used in many churches. The scripture is a beautiful example of how a person should begin a life of prayer. I think a more fitting name would be “the model prayer”. This piece of scripture is probably one of the first scriptures that someone memorizes, and it is important for the life of the believer to have in their memory.
Jesus was introducing a new and beautiful concept in the lives of the Hebrews who were listening to Him teaching. The concept that they can and should address God Almighty, Yahweh, by the title of Father was beyond their thoughts. This was a new and exciting thought that they could look at God as a father figure. God as a father would be loving, correcting, providing, and comforting. These notions are seen as Jesus gives the example of how one should address God. God should not be seen as some tyrant or far-off being that does not have your best interest in mind. No, God is seen here as a loving and providing father.
The “Lord’s Prayer” is our model prayer. Jesus was telling His followers how they should address God and what our attitudes should be like. His name is revered to us and made holy. We should ask that His will, not ours, be done on this earth. We should ask God for our daily provision. We should ask God to forgive our sins, as we also need to forgive those who wrong us, and we should ask God for strength when we are tempted. God is there to protect us from the devil. When we do these things we are surrendering our lives to God and to His authority over our lives. The Greatest joy we can have is in realizing that we can have the father we have always wanted, and the understanding that He wants so much for us to be the children we need to be.
Tomorrows Readings:
Old Testament: Gen 20-22 New Testament Matt 7
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