Friday, November 3, 2017

November 4, 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

You no doubt recognize these two verses as the beginning of the prayer Jesus taught to His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount.

But we have established that Jesus did not intend this to be a rote prayer that they were to regularly, religiously or ritualistically pray. Jesus meant this to be a pattern for how to pray and as a picture of God.

Think of prayer as a spiritual conversation with a perfect Father. 

But even more, think of prayer as a spiritual conversation with a pure and perfect Father.

Further, Jesus adds that His Father is a POWERFUL pure and perfect Father!

If God is to be understood as a Heavenly Father. And He is. And if God is to be understood as a Holy Heavenly Father. And He is. Then He must be an all-powerful Heavenly Father! And He is!

Those things being true, how should I pray?

Jesus teaches that when we pray, we should commit ourselves to God’s will. We worship God when we give him our lives every time we pray. Jesus teaches that when we pray, we should commit ourselves to God’s will.
God has a specific will for your life. The Bible says in Romans 12:2 that his will is good and perfect and it fits you. Part of connecting with God is saying, “God, what is your will for me today? I want to do your will.”
In Heaven, God’s will is done perfectly. The problem on Earth is God’s will is not always done. That’s why we’re to pray, “Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” We’re saying, “God, I want to submit to you. I want to do what you want me to do.”
You can pray “Your will be done” in three different ways. You can say it in resentment: “Your will be done, but I don’t like it.” You can say it in resignation: “Your will be done, because I can’t help it.” Or you can say it in anticipation: “Your will be done, because I know it is the best, and that’s what I want for my life today!”
 I was a kid, we watched a popular TV show called “Father Knows Best.” Your earthly father may not always know what’s best, but you can trust that your heavenly Father does. That’s what it means to say, “Your will be done.”
God has a specific will for your life. The Bible says in Romans 12:2 that his will is good and perfect and it fits you. Part of connecting with God is saying, “God, what is your will for me today? I want to do your will.”
In Heaven, God’s will is done perfectly. The problem on Earth is God’s will is not always done. That’s why we’re to pray, “Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” We’re saying, “God, I want to submit to you. I want to do what you want me to do.”
You can pray “Your will be done” in three different ways. You can say it in resentment: “Your will be done, but I don’t like it.” You can say it in resignation: “Your will be done, because I can’t help it.” Or you can say it in anticipation: “Your will be done, because I know it is the best, and that’s what I want for my life today!”
I was a kid, we watched a popular TV show called “Father Knows Best.” Your earthly father may not always know what’s best, but you can trust that your heavenly Father does. That’s what it means to say, “Your will be done.”
Will you pray that prayer?