Challenged by John Harper
September 15, 2024
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I say the Lord’s prayer almost every day.
When the disciples asked, “Lord, teach us how to pray,” in Luke 11:2-4, and Christ offers the same prayer example He also offers in Matthew 6:9-13, it makes sense that we pay attention. I did an in-depth series nearly ten years ago in October 2014, and one post in October 2023. This week as I was praying the Lord’s prayer…pausing after each piece..I thought you might be interested in the “pray and pause method.”
Feel free to pray through the post today.
We can engage in praying together this morning, as the one body we are. If after praying through the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 you find yourself wanting to linger longer, feel free to open the links to my Lord’s prayer musings from ten years ago.
9“This, then, is how you should pray:
Pray
“ ‘Our Father in heaven,
Pause
Not my Father. Our Father. We come to God as part of a body of believers every single time. Imagine your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world before proceeding. God is our Father. We come to God as part of a family.
Pray
hallowed be your name,
Pause
Let’s not proceed until we remember who we are speaking with. God is holy. Make sure we aren’t rushing and saying words without meaning before uttering another word. Sometimes I have to repeat, “hallowed be thy name” over and over again until my prayer time becomes hallowed. Concentrate on the unbelievable reality that we have full access to the Creator of heaven and earth.
Pray
10your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Pause
This is where we call God’s will down to earth from heaven. We don’t need to “babble” like the pagans who think they are heard because of their many words (Matthew 6:7) Just hand God our lists. He knows the details of each item without speaking another word. Go ahead, give it a try.
Thy will be done at (name your street address, school, workplace, countries , etc.)
They will be done in (name people’s names.)
They will be done in (name situations)
Pray
11Give us today our daily bread.
Pause
Notice the word “us,” not me. Again, we always come as part of everyone who has placed their faith in Jesus.
Name the date. For example, today may be August 11 when this blog posts. Stay in today!
For example: Lord, today is August 11, 2024. I want to live it well because I will never live it again, and I need you in order to do that.
This day.
Not tomorrow.
What “daily bread” do you need today? Don’t ask for tomorrow. After all, “Today has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)
Pray
12And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Pause
No excuses. He forgave us, so we must forgive them. All of it. Everything. Everyone. Because Jesus forgave us.
Pray
13And lead us not into temptation, a
but deliver us from the evil one. b ’
Pause
Lord, block temptations from getting to us. Protect every person in the body of Christ from having the temptation land on us in the first place. Do that for us so we are not defeated, crushed or sidetracked. Thank you for the uncountable times you have blocked temptation from getting to me.
Where is the rest?
The church adds more words to this famous prayer — For Thine is the kingdom, power and glory forever and ever, Amen — but since they don’t appear in my Bible, I don’t pray them in my personal devotionals. I end where my Savior ended.
Did you try to pray and pause?
Do you want to linger more today? Spend some time reflecting more deeply.
After all, this is how Jesus taught us to pray.
Lord’s Prayer Part 1 HERE
Lord’s Prayer Part 2 HERE
Lord’s Prayer Part 3 HERE
Lord’s Prayer 2023 HERE
Picture Explanation: Every member of my family is enthralled with sunsets. Perhaps we all are. Let them remind us of who we get to pray to: “The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.” (Psalm 50:1)
Speaking of living a short life for His will, not ours: If you are interested in participating in a co-ed online One Gritty Blink Bible study this fall, click on the Oaks Ministries link below and send me an email so I can place you on a list to be contacted as online and face-to-face studies are planned. Let’s not just focus on things in this short life, but also what counts for eternity.
Note: No part of my posts are derived from A.I. Thoughts and writing stem from my mind and heart as I process life week-by-week and continue to grow in my understanding of God and how to apply His wisdom to the world around me.
© 2024 by Oaks Ministries. All rights reserved.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes growth.
1 Corinthians 3:6
7 Responses
I’m struggling with the forgiving part since the falling out with my mom and brother this past June. I am in deep grief. I will add their names when I get to this part of the prayer.
Thank you
Oh, what a step of faith! Stunning step of faith.
Laurie: I love this suggestion, it’s brilliant & so practical:
Thy will be done at (name your street address, school, workplace, countries , etc.)
They will be done in (name people’s names.)
They will be done in (name situations)
Really a GREAT explanation of how to use the Lord’s prayer in our own prayer time! Thank you so much! Love the sunset pics.
I am so glad this was helpful!
I agree with Margee! What a great explanation!
I am grateful for this post. Pausing and praying personal thoughts made the Lord’s Prayer much more meaningful. I will continue to pause and pray! I also like what you said about just praying for “this” day. I can see how praying for too many future situations, takes our focus off the present things God has planned for us today. Thank you, Laurie
You are welcome! So glad you were blessed.