"Pray then like this. Our Father in Heaven, Holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. *For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever" Matthew 6:9-13 (*Some manuscripts omit this last sentence.)
There is nothing more uncomfortable to most church going believers than silence in prayer. More than a couple of seconds during a service, and people start to peek. More than 5 seconds, they start peeking with both eyes. More than 10, the organist will lean back over and start playing! It's no wonder then, that Jesus disciples wanted to have something ready to say. Christ responded with a model of prayer that has been useful from that time on. But as useful as that is, it is a MODEL prayer. A form to use when addressing the Almighty. Let's break it down.
"Our Father in Heaven, Holy is your name."
Getting the relationship down right at the start. He is our Father, we His creation, and we recognize and praise His holiness.
"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."
We recognize that He is in control. But God is no tyrant. He will not seize control. We must give it willingly.
"Give us this day our daily bread"
No day is ever promised except the day we have right now. The blessings of God are there for us, and more besides, but our need is only for each day, that day. And that is more than sufficient.
"and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."
This is a tough one, and not just because some say debts and others say transgressors. Jesus goes on to say in verses 14 and 15
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
That is pretty iron clad. And it assumes we've already forgiven all those that have wronged us. Matthew 5:23-24 evens says reconcile first, even before leaving a gift at the alter. Do we dare do otherwise?
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Being sidetracked is so easy to do, and evil slides in on that temptation. We ask God's help to do what He wills, not what we will.
"for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever."
I include this not because God needs the honor and praise, but because WE need to remember to honor and praise Him. It is so easy to be into our own selves, and forget that all we are is because of who He is.
This is your form. Take it, write it out in your own words, and reach out to Him this week. The Psalm this week is Psalm 91. If you've been following this discipline, you've probably already had some obstacles thrown your way. Claim these promises of protection. Know that God will protect you, shelter you. Amen..
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