Prayer Life
In Matthew Chapter 6, Jesus is on a mountaintop, teaching. One of his topics concerns prayer. In today’s world, where prayer is often looked down on or relegated to moments when some outcome is desired, Jesus’ words are ever true:
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should 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 today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Indulge me for a moment as I share my thoughts on this prayer that we know as “The Lord’s Prayer.”
Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name – Our first thought is to glorify God and acknowledge His rightful place.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven – Our next thought is to acknowledge that God’s will is ever perfect, and that we desire to do His will here on earth as is done in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread – Thank you, God, for providing all we need, as you do the birds in the heavens.
And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors – As God has forgiven us, so we are commanded to forgive others for any harm they’ve caused us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. – As we are tested in this world, may God help us to resist temptation and protect us from Satan.
Many times throughout the day, I reach out to God in prayer – short, sweet, thankful in the moment. But I also try to spend time truly thinking through and following the guidelines of the prayer Jesus’ shared with his disciples, using my own words:
“Heavenly Father, you are truly righteous and holy. You are my Creator and worthy of all glory and praise.
Holy Father, may I follow your will here on earth as completely as the angels and elders do in heaven. I pray that you give me wisdom to know your will and courage to follow it.
Thank you, Lord, for providing me with food and shelter; all that I have is because of your generosity.
Lord God, thank you for forgiving me of my sins, and may I forgive all who may be indebted to me by word or deed.
And Father God, thank you for those moments of testing, whether it’s temptations the world puts in front of me or challenging situations I may find myself in, for these are opportunities to lean into you.
And protect me, Father from the whispers of Satan.”
May your prayer life be as rich and sweet as Paul’s.