Monday, September 29, 2008

Matthew 6:9-13

I'm SO sorry everybody! I know I've been rather slack in this blog. I know I should be on here much more. I'm so sorry about not getting on in such a long time.
Of course everyone knows this prayer:

"This then, is how you should pray:

" ' Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one
[not included in these verses:]
For Thine is the kingdom
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen' "

I love this prayer! I think sometimes we think this is too simple of a prayer, but Jesus says this is HOW we are to pray. It is a simple prayer, but I think God likes simple prayers.
One of the big things in this, I remember being told once, is 'give us today our daily bread.' How often do we forget that there are people around the world who don't know if they will even get their 'daily bread.' So, for one thing, we should be thankful. But for another, we shouldn't think about tomorrow, but rather today, and what we will do today, and how we can honor God today, and so on.
This prayer is SO powerful. I think the more simple prayers are ten thousand times more powerful than these elaborate prayers that people often offer up to God. Let us remember: Ecclesiastes 5:2 - "Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."
So, the next time you say the Lord's Prayer, really think about what you're saying. Don't just mutter the words. Pray them. Ask God to help you completely understand the prayer. And also, make sure that 'your words are few.'

In Christ,
Madison