8/29/14-Thought for the day... Most of us know the Lords Prayer by heart. Many of us recite it every night. Do we really understand the meaning as we pray this prayer or do we just say the words? The Lords Prayer is located in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. Matthew 6:9-13 says, 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. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we also have forgiven those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. The Lords Prayer is given to us as an example and pattern of how to pray. God wants us to pray from our heart, not just speak memorized words. He also wants us to pray without babbling, and paying attention to Him and not allowing our minds to wonder off into other things. Matthew 6:7-8 tells us, And when you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. So, if we arent suppose to say memorized words, is it ok to say the Lords Prayer then? Of course it is, but you must understand the meaning and say it from your heart. Here is how it breaks down. “Our Father in heaven” is teaching us whom to address our prayers to—the Father. “Hallowed be your name” is telling us to worship God, and to praise Him for who He is. The phrase “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is a reminder to us that we are to pray for God’s plan in our lives and the world, not our own plan. We are to pray for God’s will to be done, not for our desires. We are encouraged to ask God for the things we need in “give us today our daily bread.” “Forgive us our trespasses, as we also have forgiven those who trespass against us” reminds us to confess our sins to God and to turn from them, and also to forgive others as God has forgiven us. The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” is a plea for help in achieving victory over sin and a request for protection from the attacks of the devil. When we pray the Lords Prayer, it needs to be prayed from our hearts with complete understanding and our mind should be focused only on God. God Bless you all~Bill
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 04:47:40 +0000
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