Yesterday we looked at Matthew 6 and walked through the Lord’s Prayer. Here are some highlights:
RELATIONSHIP-“Our Father who art in Heaven” Jesus wasn’t just teaching His disciples a new prayer, but He was modeling a new way of relating with God. He would be their personal, loving Heavenly Father.
REPUTATION-“Hallowed be Thy Name.” The second aspect of the Lord’s Prayer deals with the Name of the Lord, with His reputation. Psalm 148:13 “Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” We could rightly pray, Lord, exalt YOUR name in this situation I am going through. When you pray with reverence for God’s name, you are embracing what He wants for your life.
RECOGNITION-Thy Kingdom Come. Thy will be done. God IS the reigning authority. How committed are you to seeing God’s Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven?
REQUESTS-“Give us this day our daily bread.”God knows we have needs. He says, “Come and talk to me freely. Ask for what you need.” Remember, He is a loving Heavenly Father, and His resources are endless. He is liberal when He meets needs (Phil. 4:19).
RESTORATION-“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” God desires we be right with Him and also right with others. Since we were made for a relationship with God and other people, the very reason we exist gets disrupted when we sin and harbor bitterness and anger towards other people. Life is too hard to be dislocated from God, and life is too short to be dislocated from other people. Just pray for forgiveness and forgive those who have wronged you.
RESCUE-“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” The focus here is on God’s ability to deliver us. Pray ahead of temptation that God will provide the way out and that you will recognize it.
“For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. The prayer opens with relationship and ends with a reminder. It’s all about Him. In no other relationship could we be the beneficiaries of a relationship where it is all about someone else, but that is exactly the backwards nature of this Divine and Human experience. We seek God’s glory and to live under His Lordship and we are the ones who get elevated, blessed, and empowered to live our best possible life. Truly the Lord’s Prayer is a prayer to live by.
Let’s seek to live by it this week!
Pastor Melissa
