Month: May 2015

“Give us today our daily bread.” – Matthew 6:11 New International Version (NIV)

 

 

This little phrase is so easy to just run right over when we’re reciting this prayer. But it’s such an important part, we don’t need to miss it.

 

For me, it is such a reminder of the manna from Heaven that God provided for the Israelites during their 40-year journey in the wilderness.

 

Just think about that. Every day. (Except Sabbaths—so a double portion on Fridays.) For 40 years. For over a million people. And He never failed to provide. Not once.

 

And in addition, their clothes didn’t wear out. And their shoes stayed intact. And He provided a cooling cloud by day and a warming cloud by night to protect them from the elements.

 

Every little thing they were lacking in the desert, He provided for them.

 

Even when they were begging to go back to Egypt, He provided for them.

 

Even when they worshiped the golden calf, He provided for them.

 

Even when they refused to go into the Promised Land because they were afraid—afraid that the God who parted the Red Sea so they walked through on dry land and then closed it up and drowned all the Egyptians that were pursuing them—afraid He wouldn’t help them defeat the enemies in the land He said was theirs for the taking. The place that was their sole destination after leaving Egypt and the exclusive reason for the exodus in the first place.

 

He STILL provided for them.

 

He’s a faithful and trustworthy Father who loves His children and provides for them even when they are faithless and doubting.

 

That includes me.

 

Because I have been faithless and doubting in my relationship with Him just like the Israelites were.

 

And He’s proven to me over and over and over again that He is never going to forget me or forsake me or fail to provide for me or fail to fulfill any promise He makes to me.

 

I’m so thankful His provision for me—just like the Israelites—does not depend on my behavior. I’m so glad His provision for me—just like the Israelites—is based on my position.

 

I’m His child.

 

And He’s a good Daddy.

 

 

– What are you having trouble trusting God for right now?

 

– How has He provided for you in the past?

 

– How do you believe He wants to use this current situation in your life?

 

– What are you going to choose to do?

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10

 

This is probably the part of the model prayer that I pray more than any other part. And I bet I’m not the only one.

 

Sometimes I think I pray it because it’s safe. And easy. I just ask that God’s will be done in a particular situation I need to pray for. And that’s as far as I go.

 

I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad way to pray, but I’m not sure it’s the best way to utilize this part of the model prayer. And it’s definitely not the most powerful way.

 

There are two ways I think may be better ways to pray this particular verse.

 

The first is something I learned from Graham Cooke when he spoke at our church recently. He was not talking about this model prayer, he was just talking about prayer in general. But the idea he shared really got my attention. He said since Jesus is our Advocate in Heaven and is always praying for us, why don’t we ask Jesus how He’s praying about our particular situation, then get in agreement with Him, and pray like He’s praying.

 

Brilliant!

 

If we’re praying about a situation the same way Jesus is praying about it, then we are definitely in line with this part of the model prayer.

 

The second idea I have about how to pray this verse is to ask Holy Spirit what your role is in bringing God’s kingdom and will into the particular situation you’re praying about.

 

I may be wrong, but I don’t think God is waiting on His children to beg for His will to be done in their lives and then deciding whether or not He’s going to drop it into their particular situation. I believe God wants His will to be done in our lives more than anything. And I believe He’s waiting for someone to ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK to find out what His will is and then watching for them to PROCLAIM IT and DO IT.

 

I think a lot of people pray this verse like it is a request—and I don’t think it is. I think it’s meant to be a proclamation. “Your kingdom come, Your will be done . . . .” And when we pray that way, we are saying that we will do our part to make sure God’s will is done in whatever earthly realm we have dominion—whether that is as an individual, a family member, an employee, a ministry team member, a Little League baseball coach, a local police officer or the President of the United States. We all have a part to play in bringing God’s kingdom to earth.

 

I think some people are reluctant to pray for God’s will because they’re afraid of what He might ‘do’ to them, or where He may send them, or what they may have to give up. But there’s really no reason for us to be afraid to pray for God’s will. God loves us without measure and He is totally trustworthy. He is always for us and His plans for us are always to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11). And God is working ALL THINGS together for our good (Romans 8:28).

 

I once heard a definition of God’s will that I LOVE. Ike Reighard was my pastor over a decade ago and he shared this definition one Sunday. He said, “God’s will is what you would choose if you had all the facts.”

 

If you knew everything God knows about you and your situation, including who He created you to be and the unbelievably incredible plans He has for you, you would choose God’s will every time.

 

I like that. So even if I don’t have all the facts, I know I can trust that God’s will for me is the very best.

 

So that’s how I’m going to pray—proclaiming that God’s will be done here on earth just like it is in Heaven, and then doing my part to bring Heaven to earth. I can’t wait to see what that looks like.

 

Want to join me?

 

What is the main situation you are currently spending time praying about? How is Jesus praying about that situation?

 

What is one thing you can do today to help bring Heaven to earth in your home or office or community?

 

After the salutation that states who God is and where He resides, the first phrase in the model prayer refers to God’s name and how sacred it is. This phrase is usually translated “hallowed be Thy name” but there are a few other translations. Here are a couple that are easier to understand:

“. . . we honor your holy name.” – Matthew 6:9 (TLB)

“. . . may your name be kept holy. – Matthew 6:9 (NLT)

 

This phrase is not a request for anything. Instead it’s a positive, affirming statement that tells God we understand how holy He is and, therefore, how sacred His name is — and how important it is for us to maintain our reverence for His name.

 

A long time before this model prayer is given, God let people know how serious He takes this issue.  Misusing God’s name is number three on His list of ten commandments in Exodus 20. I’ve most often heard this as a commandment against swearing by God’s name to support a false statement or just using His name profanely.

 

But I believe there’s also another way we need to honor His name and keep it holy. And that is by the way we live our lives.

 

As believers, we are known by His name. We are known as Christians (‘little Christs’) or God Followers or Jesus Freaks or any other number of brands we’re given–or have given ourselves.

 

So how we live our lives reflects on God’s name.

 

My pastor said something in Sunday’s service that I loved! We were praying for the first responders, elected officials and school teachers who were in our services. He asked God to remind them every day that they are sons and daughters of The Most High God and because of that, they need to ‘walk with a royal gait.’

 

Walk with a royal gait. I love that. He wasn’t talking about being arrogant. He was talking about walking with honor and dignity and grace and mercy! I believe that is part of keeping God’s name holy–remembering who WE are because of the relationship we have with The Most High God.

 

And knowing who we are will change the way we live our lives.

 

And that will help pre-believers see God’s love up close and personal.

 

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What do I need to change about the way I use God’s name?

 

How well does my life honor my Heavenly Father’s name?