We have all prayed the Lord’s Prayer. If you’ve ever been to church it is likely that you have recited the prayer for Matthew 6 that the Lord taught his disciples to pray. But, have you ever really thought about it?
When Jesus told his disciples how to pray, Jesus not only taught them how to recite a prayer but also the various parts that are included when we pray. Prayer should be like breathing, it will sustain life.
Merle is the oldest living member of The Wesleyan Church. She is 111 years young. I had the privilege of serving as her pastor and she was our babysitter for our daughter when we ran our church youth group. She would pretend to be the baby while our daughter pushed her in the stroller. That’s when she was 90. Only standing 4 foot & 5 inches she is a giant in the faith!
In a interview by a television station out of Chicago, Merle was asked what her secret to a long life was. Soft-spoken and practical she simply answered, "Keep breathing." See Video.
(Meryl passed away the end of August, 2018. She related blog – A Tribute.)
We should always see prayer as a part of our daily life. The Lords prayer teaches us that there is a kingdom that is beyond this world.
We put God first in all things because he is above all things. Jesus knew that we are tempted to put ourselves first and becoming, "our own god." This is the very first lie told in the garden of Eden that we could be like God. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness he was told that he could rule over all nations. All he needed to do was to bow down and worship Satan. Jesus responded with, "You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him." It is tempting to be powerful. We are encouraged to worship only God.
We also find that Jesus taught us to seek His kingdom, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. When we think about heaven and we consider the troubles of this world we wonder how this prayer could come to pass. We question, how can this be, His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven?
I love the saying, "What you do here today echoes for eternity." It is a reminder that God can use us to make a difference for eternity sake.
In the lives of many children and youth who are in the foster care system or waiting for adoption, we have to wonder what God‘s plan is and how the kingdom of God can make a difference in this world. Dr. David Wright who wrote the book, "How God Makes the World a Better Place" offers ideas about how God uses us as His instruments. We can make a difference.
"A personal intervention with social systems. We help to make the world a better place when we work to create social systems that focus our collective efforts to improve the lot of our community’s least powerful members. We are concerned not only with the poor, but the structures that promote a healthy community where people can overcome poverty."
Excerpt From: How God Makes the World a Better Place
David Wright
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-god-makes-the-world-a-better-place/id583487374?mt=11
This material may be protected by copyright.
When we pray "Thy will be done, thy kingdom come," we invite God‘s plan. Essentially we could say that prayer is the alignment of our will with God’s will. Henry Blackerby famously said that we should discover where God is and join Him.
That is essentially what I believe foster parents or those serving in social service are doing for the least and the most vulnerable in our communities. We know that Jesus loves children and we believe that it breaks his heart, as it does ours when we see children who are abused or neglected. They cannot care for themselves and are dependent upon guardianship to provide and protect. His will is in direct partnership with our desire to make a difference. Sin has entered our world which requires spiritual beings like you and me resolve to make a difference in the lives of these young people.
When Jesus was tempted the devil came to him and basically said, "Wouldn’t you like to be popular?" He took him to the highest place of the religious center of life. He sensually was trying to have Jesus do it his own way rather than allow God‘s plan to succeed. Jesus quickly responded that the Lord should not be tested. But isn’t it temptation we face but we often test God by choosing to do things our way. Even making our plans in the coming days or weeks. I put my events on my calendar. I do it, don’t you?
The next part of the Lords prayer shouldn’t be complex to grasp. This part tells us that we are dependent upon God for our daily bread and the ability to forgive others.
When you think about it, God‘s provision and grace is enough to sustain us daily. Yet we have an appetite for more than what mere bread cannot fill and the ability to forgive others must come from beyond ourselves. The Lord teaches us that he is the provider of both. Our complete dependence must come from the Lord has with rightfully put him in his place and align our will with his will. Often it does come down to day-to-day.
Jesus was tempted to use his abilities to turn stones into bread but what did Jesus reply, mansion not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God. He knew that being temporal-minded will never satisfy the deeper and needs that we have. As we look to God, for eternal things, we find his ministry and his promises to be true in our lives.
What did He display after the great flood? Didn’t He say that He would not destroy the world with floods but reminded us that when we see rainbows we take great comfort in his great promises from His Word.
The next time you recite the Lord‘s prayer, think deeply about the prayer you are praying. Put God first in all things, seek to align your will with his will, and depend on him for your daily needs by looking to His Word.
