Hope all is well with you and yours on this glorious summer day! I have to say that I was proud last night to see some ministry teams doin ministry at fusion! We have a long way to go, but it was cool to see them take off like they did last night!
Summary...
There is a ton of good stuff in Matthew 6 that you need to take time to look at, but I would like to take our time and focus on the Lord's prayer. Do you know this prayer? For me, I have grown up saying this prayer every week, and to be honest it has lost its meaning. In Matthew 6:5-14, Jesus talks about prayer. He warns against public prayer, saying that we must be careful as we pray publicly not to pray to impress others. Jesus also says not to babble on as we pray...yeah I am horrible at that! So many times when I pray, I ramble on and on and then I end my prayer never allowing my God to speak to me. We MUST remember that prayer is a 2 way conversation between us and God, and that we have to stop hanging up on God! But Lets take a closer look at the "classic" Lord's prayer.
Our Father who art in heaven, may Your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Something I noticed about this prayer that I have never seen before is how the first 3 lines have nothing to do with us and everything to do with God. Do your prayers to God mimic the Lord's prayer? I think most of us rush into prayer, lay or requests before God, and then say thanks and love ya...I love ya Lord...Amen. Remember the disciples asked Jesus how should we pray...and Jesus said like this...and then went into the Lord's prayer. We must begin our prayers with the holiness of our God like Jesus calls us to. We must start with acknowledging life begins with You Lord. I know people who start their prayers with...It's not about me, it's about You Lord! We have to learn to run into God's presence focused more on Him and less on us.
Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
I love the idea of coming before our God and asking Him to give us what we need for our day. Asking Him to wipe us clean, and help us to forgive those around us. And looking to Him for guidance through temptation and keeping us safe from the schemes of the enemy! Do your prayers sound like this?
Questions...
- Stop and recite the Lord's prayer. Do feel that prayer has power within it, or have you become used to saying it, and it is simply a routine prayer you say in church?
- When do you pray to God? How to you go about doing it usually? Do you follow Christ's model He gave us in Matthew 6?
- I would like to encourage us to memorize vs. 33 of Matthew 6. Begin each comment with it. What is the significance of that verse to you?
Lord God help us to keep You first in our lives! Draw us closer to You as we study Your Son Jesus. Lord God help us to keep our focus on You as we pray, rather than focusing on ourselves. Jesus give us victory today over temptation from the evil one, and remind us of our forgiveness that we have in You! Lord Jesus we love You, and we need You...we desperately pursue You! Bless my friends as we study You!
In Jesus Name...Amen
tom
