Jul 24 2005
Behind the Words
My pastor is currently doing a series on prayer. One of the statements that he made last week really caught my attention. He mentioned that he prays the Lords prayer daily and that over the years it continues to amaze him how his understanding of that prayer has continued to change and grow with his own maturity.
It is with this in mind that I personally intend to write the Lords prayer daily and reflect on what it means.
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
I acknowledge that you are the creator of all there is and that you rule from a place of utmost perfection, which we call Heaven.Hallowed be Thy Name.
It is my desire that your name be revered above all names and that your character is known by all through your names’.Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
It is also my desire to see your perfect will be reflected in every facet of what I can know just as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Please do not withhold from us that of yours which we need.And forgive us our debts,
Please forgive us of our wrongs which if they were to be measured we could never repay.
as we forgive our debtors.
Lord, I acknowledge that all too often this is not the case. Please give me the strength and grace of your Spirit so I can honestly say these words.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Help me to keep my focus on you all of my days and stay the evil of this world from me and mine.
It’s my hope that you’ll also take the time to ask yourself what this prayer means to you.
- When you read the prayer what do the words mean to you?
- How does your mind interpret them?
- Do you find yourself changing where you place emphasis in the prayer based on your current circumstances?
- What line is your focus on today?
Peace,
Rong
Our Father Which Art in Heaven Hallowed be your name…
Our Father Who is the Father of everyone, including the Father of those in other religions… including the Father to those who we do not like. No one is like you.
Thy Kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven…
Who is working to transform and renew Earth and Heaven back together. Help us to aspire to Dream your Dream of what Earth is to be like. Bring your kingdom of love and make Heaven and Earth not two different places, but One. Bring us to understand that Jesus has no body here except ours.
Give us this Day our Daily Bread…
Help us to be dependant on you, Content with what we have… and we are thinking of those who need bread today.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…
Free us from the cycle of offense and revenge which plagues us. Help us to understand that Peace is through God’s way of bringing Peace, and not our own.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…
We are vulnerable, but there is nothing that we are incapable of with you. Help us to rise above our circumstances and to become a transformed people.
For yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory for forever. Amen…
In understanding this, it trivializing all human institutions… Embodied in us, Jesus is living here. Help us to enter the world with confidence, and to be filled with love and peace.
Nice Reid, thanks for your insight.