THE PRAYER I STOPPED PRAYING
Three years ago I left 17 years of religious platforms behind. As strange as it may sound, one thing I stopped doing was praying The Lord’s Prayer. It had become for me something I did out of ritual and rote memory. They were words that I just said to check a box at bedtime with my kids and to recite in church. I don’t think I ever one time stopped and really pondered on the words of this prayer.
Reading the Bible each day is now the foundation of my day. I love waking up each morning and reading the words God gave us to live by. Several months ago as I was studying the book of Luke and focusing on the “red letters” of Jesus there it was. Jesus was teaching the disciples how to pray. The Lord’s Prayer is written in red letters! These are His words! For the first time in my life these words pierced my heart.
“Father, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
Give us each day the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation.”
Luke 11:2 (NLT)
In the very first words, “Father, may your name be kept holy.” Jesus praised the holiness of God. In some translations the word “hallowed” is used. It means to be made holy; greatly revered and honored. Before we can sit before God and pray for his guidance, support, and intervention we must acknowledge who He is. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. He spoke the universe into existence. He is the great I AM. He is our Father. When I say these words I have a sense that God moves in closer and really starts to listen to what I am saying.
This is where we have to really pay attention! May your Kingdom Come Soon. This is an invitation for God to come and transform your life! In Luke 17:21, Jesus says to the Pharisee’s, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” God’s spirit moving in the lives of His people is evidence of His Kingdom. When we accept God as our Savior our lives are transformed. Isn’t that exciting? The Kingdom starts with us!
Give us each day the food we need. Each and every day the Bible gives us our sustenance. It is God’s living word. The more I read the more I understand exactly what this means. This daily “food” can’t just be stored up and saved for later use. We have to be filled up each day. As you sit down to read, ask God to open your eyes and your heart and for Him to reveal himself to you through His word. I believe this is what it means when we say “give” us.
Forgiveness is the foundation of our relationship with God. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. God sent his only son to die a painful death on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven. The greatest sacrifice! God will forgive us of our sins so how can we not forgive those who have sinned against us? In Ephesians Paul wrote, “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” When I pray these words of The Lord’s Prayer it is a remembrance that God forgave me and I think about people that may have wronged me. I pray for a changed heart and for God’s love to dominate my thoughts and actions.
And don’t let us yield to temptation. Our world and the culture around us contains many temptations. A temptation is a desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise. Throughout the Bible we are given warnings of not giving in to temptations such as satisfaction, egos, wealth, lust, materialism, and pride. One of my favorite scriptures is Matthew 26:41, “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Again, we must seek God daily, fill up on his “food”, and arm ourselves against these temptations.
Over the last few weeks I’ve learned the significance of praying scripture. Can you imagine how God must fill with delight when he hears us praying His words out loud? I start each day with this prayer. Not because I memorized it years ago but because this is how Jesus taught his disciples to pray! Read this scripture and let it soak in. I pray you have a blessed day!
Love, Heather
P.S. you can also read The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9
