This morning I read Matthew chapter six. In this chapter are many amazing teachings of Jesus. One of which is the teaching about prayer. Verses 8-13 are where “The Lord’s Prayer” come from. Many of us know this prayer by heart, but I really enjoyed reading it in a different version than I have memorized it:
“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” (NLT)
As I read, I began to pray this verse in my own words. As I prayed, I noticed some things I have never noticed before.
1. We pray that God’s Kingdom come before we say “Your will be done”
2. This prayer isn’t really focused on any one particular person. Jesus isn’t praying for the guy
over there; and He isn’t “praying for Himself” either.
3. He tells us in verse eight not to merely repeat our words over and over again.
Point number one stood out to me because, it seems that we are praying for God’s Kingdom to come for our own reasons. We don’t want to go through the trials and tribulations of the book of Revelation. This verse showed me that we are allowed to ask for things for ourselves, but need to remember to keep it under God’s control. Your will be done above my own, Lord. Even though I want to meet my husband so badly, I want Your plan for my life to take place even more so than that desire.
Point number two… I never noticed before that Jesus doesn’t really pray for all of His friends and family… Maybe when we do, we should add onto that prayer, “Your will be done”. I think it is God’s will for everyone to go to Heaven to be with Him, so wouldn’t it be best to put it into His hands?
Point number three… I often feel guilty when I don’t pray for my unsaved friends and family over and over and over again… But verse eight says, “They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!” My first experience talking to God occurred a long time ago. I was doubting my salvation at the time. That morning, I happened to be home alone, so I started my Bible time in the morning and asked God if I was saved. Before I could even finish the question “Am I sav…” I heard a “YES”. As the day progressed, I spent most of it talking to God like I would any other person. It was Awesome! During our “chat” I asked God if I needed to pray for the salvation of certain people in my life over and over again… I felt like He told me, “no”. It has been over 15 years since that day, so I don’t remember exactly His answer… But it was something to the effect of, “I know exactly what you need even before you ask Me.” He was not telling me to stop asking altogether, but was freeing me from the burden of “religiously” having to pray for each person every day. God knows our hearts. He knows that I desire for my friend to come to know Him as his true Savior and Lord. He knows that I desire for every one of my relatives to come to know Him. He knows that I desire for my cousins to find their purpose in life, and to follow Him every step of the way. He knows that I want to protect my friends and family from bad relationships… He knows all of my thoughts and intentions.
Since this blog is called “Inspired by Lyrics”, it was only fitting that a particular song popped into my head regarding this morning’s topic: “Whatever” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Please listen to the words carefully. Can you truly tell God, I’ll do “Whatever” you say? I’m working on it, but don’t know that I am there yet.
What do you get out of “The Lord’s Prayer”? Did anything stand out to you that you had not noticed before? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Blessings!
~ S*
“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” (NLT)
As I read, I began to pray this verse in my own words. As I prayed, I noticed some things I have never noticed before.
1. We pray that God’s Kingdom come before we say “Your will be done”
2. This prayer isn’t really focused on any one particular person. Jesus isn’t praying for the guy
over there; and He isn’t “praying for Himself” either.
3. He tells us in verse eight not to merely repeat our words over and over again.
Point number one stood out to me because, it seems that we are praying for God’s Kingdom to come for our own reasons. We don’t want to go through the trials and tribulations of the book of Revelation. This verse showed me that we are allowed to ask for things for ourselves, but need to remember to keep it under God’s control. Your will be done above my own, Lord. Even though I want to meet my husband so badly, I want Your plan for my life to take place even more so than that desire.
Point number two… I never noticed before that Jesus doesn’t really pray for all of His friends and family… Maybe when we do, we should add onto that prayer, “Your will be done”. I think it is God’s will for everyone to go to Heaven to be with Him, so wouldn’t it be best to put it into His hands?
Point number three… I often feel guilty when I don’t pray for my unsaved friends and family over and over and over again… But verse eight says, “They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!” My first experience talking to God occurred a long time ago. I was doubting my salvation at the time. That morning, I happened to be home alone, so I started my Bible time in the morning and asked God if I was saved. Before I could even finish the question “Am I sav…” I heard a “YES”. As the day progressed, I spent most of it talking to God like I would any other person. It was Awesome! During our “chat” I asked God if I needed to pray for the salvation of certain people in my life over and over again… I felt like He told me, “no”. It has been over 15 years since that day, so I don’t remember exactly His answer… But it was something to the effect of, “I know exactly what you need even before you ask Me.” He was not telling me to stop asking altogether, but was freeing me from the burden of “religiously” having to pray for each person every day. God knows our hearts. He knows that I desire for my friend to come to know Him as his true Savior and Lord. He knows that I desire for every one of my relatives to come to know Him. He knows that I desire for my cousins to find their purpose in life, and to follow Him every step of the way. He knows that I want to protect my friends and family from bad relationships… He knows all of my thoughts and intentions.
Since this blog is called “Inspired by Lyrics”, it was only fitting that a particular song popped into my head regarding this morning’s topic: “Whatever” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Please listen to the words carefully. Can you truly tell God, I’ll do “Whatever” you say? I’m working on it, but don’t know that I am there yet.
What do you get out of “The Lord’s Prayer”? Did anything stand out to you that you had not noticed before? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Blessings!
~ S*
Hi Susan! Love to see young people studying God's Word!!!
ReplyDeleteJust a few thoughts on this section of scripture. 1. Jesus took the time to listen and then answer the question. Sounds so basic that it's almost not worth noting, but it speaks to how important we are to Him. 2. It's soooooo easy to for get WHY we are here in the first place. To bring glory to God, to honor Him in all I do. Layer by layer, "test" by test He teaches me to simply trust Him. Not for a particular outcome, simply and only trust that if He gave the life of His Son for me, surely I can trust His decisions for my life. EVEN when I am inwardly kicking and screaming! ;-) I do apprecite your heart regarding a husband to serve and share life with. EVEN if... His timing is not your liking you want His will above all. Can I just say that many of His children never allow that truth? God must have something very special for you Susan, to take the time and care to teach you such tough lessons so early in life. Sorry for the way too long response!! Becky White