I recently learned something about the prayer Jesus gave his disciples, the one we call the Lord鈥檚 Prayer. Jesus was responding to a request of his followers to teach them to pray.
They had seen the intimacy experienced in prayer and his priority to spend time with the Father.听
Jesus is teaching us that prayer is a conversation with God, as way of engaging faith and the journey of holiness.
Each line, as I wrote in a series of articles earlier this year, has a lot for us to consider, expand upon and put to practice, whether you are just beginning to seek God or have walked in faith many decades.听
My recent discovery centres around the flow of the Lord鈥檚 prayer, there is a progressing that is valuable for our maturing in faith 鈥� it is a route map with essential stops along the way.听We declare the holiness of God, centred around his name.听The one God, creator, sustainer, sovereign.听From there, we engage in his Kingdom, here on earth and into the eternal kingdom of Heaven, inviting God鈥檚 Kingdom to arrive in us and through us to our world.听That flows quite rightly into our obedience and commitment to him. 鈥淵our will be done鈥� is a yielding, even an abandonment of our self into God; I am yours God, let it be your way in my life, I鈥檓 in!
Then comes the provision for daily need. This is what struck me strongest in my new understanding.听My request for provision of daily need is in direct context of my commitment to obey God鈥檚 will, see his Kingdom come and glorify his name.听
Lord give me what I need to live for you this day! This draws us to living in community,听to forgive as I am forgiven, to seek unity and working for God together.
As we engage these levels, we increasingly enter into a spiritual battle both internally and externally, so we should be alert and pray for openness to deal with our issues and protection from outside that distracts us from faith.
Perhaps in you can see the prayer in a new light and path that will benefit your faith journey.听
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all you soul, all your mind and all your strength, and love your neighbour as yourself.听
Pastor Greg Dermody
Assiniboia Alliance Church
As for me and my mouse, we will follow the LORD!
听
