Saturday, November 4, 2017

November 5, 2017

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9-10

Commonly called "The Lord's Prayer" this sample supplication should more accurately be labeled "The Disciple's Prayer" since Jesus gave it as a pattern to teach His disciples how to pray. If you want to be moved by the actual Lord's Prayer go to John 17 and read the prayer Jesus offered up for you!

But if Jesus gives a pattern we had better learn from it!

In this prayer He teaches us that prayer is:

A conversation with a Perfect Father
A conversation with a Pure Perfect Father
AND a conversation with a Pure Perfect Powerful Father!

Some versions of the Bible add at the end of the prayer, "for yours is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory forever ". Since that phrase does not appear in the most ancient manuscripts the NIV version does not include in.

But whether it is stated or not, there is no doubt God has the power to accomplish what He desires and the power to prevent the enemy from doing the evil he desires.

So, this prayer is a powerful prayer because it puts you in conversation with a God Who wants to relate to you as a Father, a God Who is holy and perfect in all of His ways, and a God who posses all the power needed (omnipotence) to be the sovereign of the universe!

How powerful is He?

He is powerful enough to forgive you of all your sins. to cleanse you from sin and make you holy.

He is powerful enough to keep you from sin and to guard you from the Evil One.

He is powerful enough to provide you will everything you need and perfect enough to convict of the things you don't!

Isn't it good to know that someone who has that much power is also perfect and holy in his nature? You wouldn't want that sort of power in the wrong hands, would you?

What is the point of praying to a god who doesn't possess enough power to accomplish what you desire? Our God, the Father of Jesus Christ, the God Who longs to be your Father, is the Creator and Ruler of the entire universe! He can get it done!

You do not have to pray the Lord's Prayer every time you pray! That is not what Jesus wants you to do. The point of His teaching is to introduce you to God as a:

Perfect Father
Pure and Perfect Father
Powerful Pure and Perfect Father

And, to let you know that you can have spiritual conversations with Him as often as you like!

Let us pray!