Prayer Series: How to Pray – The Lord’s Prayer
We have quickly looked at some types and manners of prayer in the Prayer Series: Introduction (https://truthfocus.co.za/2023/01/21/prayer-series-introduction/), but now a fundamental part to expound on early in the series is the most important image of our daily prayer life as it is the example that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ gave. What better example on “How To” is there? Before we begin, we cannot have an effective prayer life without having a relationship and fellowship with the Lord and knowing what His authority is and worshiping Him.
Matthew 6:9-13
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Our Father which art in heaven
Take a moment, ponder upon the phrase above… Ever gave it more than a moment’s thought? The most special relationship that can exist between man and God is clearly defined in the first two words – “Our Father”. It’s not “the Father”, but our. I wonder if we ever realize the depth and extent of love captured therein, as well as adoration for God.. John 1:12 says “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” that’s why we can say with assurance “OUR Father”. This is all due to the most profound sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Not just is He our Father, but He is in heaven. Immediately that displays the might and authority that comes with Him. It shows us the power and vastness of who He is. Therefore, we speak of utmost reverence in referral to God. We cannot compare our relationship of our Dad on earth with our Heavenly Father. It’s different as far as the east is from the west and has absolutely no correlation in depth and importance. When we speak of God we need to make sure we address Him with utmost respect, it does not influence the love and depth of the relationship if there is a respectful reverence towards God, as a matter of fact that is usually the cause of the depth and love from our side. We cannot water down the authority of God by addressing Him as the “man upstairs”, or the “gray old guy above”. That diminishes our Father which art in heaven in our lives, as we do not have the power to truly diminish God.
Psalms 103:19
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Please see the article on having reverence for God (https://truthfocus.co.za/2023/01/25/relevance-vs-reverence/).
Hallowed be Thy name
To hallow means to “make holy”, we start off to exalt the name of God and magnify it above all else, therefore we cannot dare to say to God “hallowed be thy Name”, when we ourselves aren’t striving to be holy in all manner of conversation (1 Peter 1:15-16). We hallow God’s name and simultaneously strive to be holy as He is. Also when we hallow His name, our praise towards God starts and we realize the depth of the character of God, to Whom we are speaking. We realize that His character is so deep and unexplainable to man that there is an abundance of names that refer to His amazingness. When we utter His name let us only do it fully knowing the power and majesty behind the Name. We are speaking about God, our Creator. When you pray the words of “hallowed be Thy name” again, think of all the power and authority captured within the name of God, when we just take a quick glance at the table below.
We cannot underestimate the holiness of God, we start to see a glimpse of His holiness in chapters like Isaiah 6, where mighty cherubim cry “Holy, Holy, Holy” the whole time to glorify His name or where Moses has to remove His sandals and fearfully approaches the burning bush ignited by a holy God. May we all realize the need to live holy and get in line with God.
Thy kingdom come
We are referring here to a specific kingdom, not just any, and that’s God’s kingdom. Jesus preached the kingdom of God and said we must go and spread and tell people about it (Luke 9:16). We do it by spreading the Gospel, the message of salvation as the kingdom of God is brought on through the message of salvation.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Luke 17:21
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Colossians 1:13
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
It is so special to know that the kingdom of God is brought within us and in our midst through the message of salvation which is the Gospel, and the kingdom of heaven will one day be entered by all that believe on Jesus Christ and are born again. So when we pray for God’s kingdom to come, we essentially pray for souls to come unto salvation and for the message of Christ to be spread so that every person can experience the fruits of the Spirit within their lives, which is a foretaste of our future with God.
Note: Before moving on to the next verse, I want you to specifically read in the KJV Bible and you will notice that after the phrase “Thy Kingdom come” you will see a full stop,the sentence is complete.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Why can I pray in line with this phrase? Why can I pray “that Thy will be done”? Because we know what the will of God is in the general aspect. We know that God’s will is to make disciples of all nations, but where we need guidance is upon whom must we spend our time discipling, as we cannot disciple everyone? The fact stands- discipling needs to be done, it’s God’s will. We do need to pray to find out if our compromising is in God’s will, anything pulling us away from Him is not in His will. We know it’s in God’s will to spread the Gospel, the prayerful aspect is where to spread it. The other day someone summarized it very accurately – The “what” of God’s will has been answered, we need to pray and find out the “when, where, who and how”.
Psalms 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Everything in heaven is completely in line with God and His will, on earth many are led astray. Everything done in heaven is a part of God’s will, very little done on earth is a part of His will. Our prayer is that more and more people come under subjection to the will of God, but also that our lives will be completely subject to Him and Him alone.
Give us this day our daily bread.
If you are thinking your physical food for every day then you are completely right (Matthew 6:25), but just know it also goes much deeper than just that. Jesus said He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), John 1 tells us that the Word was God. We must remember that everything in the Bible is connected, Jesus was there in the beginning and was God, and the whole Gospel pertaining unto Jesus, as a matter of fact, the whole Bible pertaining unto Jesus explains the Bread of Life and is needed for our daily sustenance and spiritual survival.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mark 11:25
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
I am already forgiven in the name of Jesus, I cannot afford to have a grudge or unforgiveness towards someone else. If you pray the Lord’s prayer and take the previous phrases seriously then you will understand that it is completely impossible to pray that with a sincere heart and not feel the need to work on unforgiveness in your life. The entire part preceding this phrase, shows us that we are completely dependent upon God and God alone. He is the sole reason we have grace and forgiveness – how dare we not forgive? Give your struggles to Jesus.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Jesus comes to the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane and asks His disciples what they are doing? why are they sleeping? They must pray so that they be not led into temptation. When we pray, the Lord helps us to not be led into temptation and it shifts our focus from thing on the earth to things above (Colossians 3:2).
Remember, we call ourselves sons and daughters of God and when we pray that He should not lead us into temptation it is technically a help-cry to help us stay on the right track. We can then not be mad if a storm as in Jonah’s case comes our way when we are being led into temptation. Our help-cry screams “God help me to not fall into temptation”. So God will help!
Hebrews 12:6
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Hebrews 12:10-11
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
We are in Jesus so we have power over satan in Jesus’ name, resist the devil and he will flee from you.
We are under the authority of Jesus and all power in heaven and on earth is His. We live and die for His glory. We will be with Him forever and He will be forever.
Amen
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