Welcome to this week’s blog. Today I am writing about "The Lord’s Prayer,” its meaning, and the importance of how we should pray just as Jesus had taught His disciples to pray.
The Lord’s Prayer is a gift for every person. When we pray this prayer, we are essentially not just praying for ourselves, but for everyone. This includes our family, friends and other nations and other cultures. We are praying for government leaders and those in service.
We are praying for people we don’t know, and yes even our foes. Jesus gifted us this with this prayer so that we might pray a worldly plea for His protection for each of us. When we say “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done,” we are heightening a request to the Lord. We are asking not only for our own desires, wants and needs, but also for the necessities of all of God’s children.
Prayer does not limit itself to one person or one small nation or culture. Prayers are overflowing, indiscriminate, compassionate and intended for everyone. Prayer is like a blazing fire, it knows no boundaries, limitations or restrictions.
“The Lord's Prayer” appears in two places in the Bible, in the books of Matthew and Luke. In the book of Luke 11:1-5 (NIV), Jesus was praying by himself. When He had finished, one of the disciples asked him, “Lord, teach us how to pray, just as John taught his disciples,” referring to John the Baptist.
In the book of Matthew 6:5-14 (NIV), the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.
And Jesus said,
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not keep on 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.
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 debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
In this prayer, how is the “Kingdom of God” revealed to us? The “Kingdom of God” (and its related form “Kingdom of Heaven” in Matthew) is one of the key elements of the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. The coming of the “Kingdom of God” involved God finally taking back the reins of history, which He allowed to slack as Pagan Empires were ruling the nations.
“The Lord's Prayer” is important to Christians because it is what Jesus gave his disciples as a form of prayer when they asked him to teach them how to pray. Another name for the Lord's Prayer is the Perfect Prayer. It is considered the perfect prayer, as it includes many different types of prayer.
“The Lord’s Prayer” has seven key denotations for all of us to take note. These denotations should serve as a constant reminder for each of us to never forget these special gifts that we have received from God, Our Heavenly Father, as a result of being born again through the blood shed of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Here are seven denotations applicable to each line in “The Lord’s Prayer”:
Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name 1. Always direct your prayers to God the Father. This also means “Focus Me Lord.”
Your Kingdom Come
2. Remember that God’s Kingdom will eventually come down to earth. We don’t know the day or the hour, but we need to be ready for His 2nd Coming. This also means “Control Me Lord.”
Your Will Be Done - On Earth as it is in Heaven 3. Remember to stay in the perfect Will of God for your life. This also means “Lead Me Lord.”
Give Us Today Our Daily Bread 4. Ask God to keep you lacking nothing thru the daily bread you need in this life. This also means “Supply Me Lord.”
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors 5. Forgive all those who trespass against you, and your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. This also means “Cleanse Me Lord.”
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one 6. Ask God to keep you far removed from temptation and deliver you from any evil. This also means “Protect Me Lord.”
For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory Forever 7. Remember that God’s Kingdom, Power, and Glory will be the only One that will last forever. This also means “Empty Me Lord.”
As you can see from the above denotations, “The Lord’s Prayer” is a very powerful and profound prayer with key instructions that are pertinent to everyone’s life. For many generations, this prayer has been effortlessly memorized as a result of years of repetition and practice in our family and churches around the world. Nevertheless, as a result of having this prayer perfectly memorized, we sometimes forget how many denotations are really contained in it. Since this prayer is so easily recitable due to our historic teachings, we lose site of the overall, powerful message contained in between the lines.
This prayer truly ought to be meditated and digested daily, so we never forget the seven key denotations contained in it. Each one of these denotations are something that we all need in our daily walk with the Lord. This practice is like wearing the armor of God daily. It helps keep us God centered and grounded in our walk with the Lord as we face the tougher trials and tribulations in this life.
"Focus me Lord, Control Me Lord; Lead Me Lord; Supply Me Lord; Cleanse Me Lord; Protect Me Lord; and last Empty Me Lord – Amen.”
Blessings until next week,
Debra Pauli Unstoppable Believer
Scripture Quotes: Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV) / New King James (NKJ) / English Standard Version (ESV)
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