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Why pray the Lord’s Prayer

Over the past few months, we have stepped through the prayer of Matthew Six that Jesus gave to us as a way to pray.

Over the past few months, we have stepped through the prayer of Matthew Six that Jesus gave to us as a way to pray. 

Have you ever wondered how saying this prayer brings you to God in the thirty-two seconds it takes to say it? 

Some traditions embrace written prayers for the strength of guidance and focus, others avoid them because of a concern of hollow repetition. Whether you see this prayer as complete unit or a model or a mix of those two, we likely agree it is significant and requires our engagement.

Our practices of faith are meant to draw closer into personal relationship with God. Some habits take repetition to become a part of our practice and engagement. It is by repetition that we can grow in skill and implementation. 

Perhaps a central characteristic of growing faith is the battle of willfulness verses willingness. Obedience to Jesus is not dormant submission or forced compliance, but a relational willingness. This is reflected in the prayer, “Your will be done”, “As I forgive others”, “Deliver us from evil”. 

It is about operating on the basis of freedom and security of the relationship. The importance of this attitude towards the Lord’s Prayer is reflected in the line that Jesus delivers at the end. “If you cannot forgive others, how can you expect the Father to forgive you?”

Whoa!  My relationships with others impact my relationship with God? Is it possible my words of prayer hit the ceiling when I hold unforgiveness in my heart? Is it possible that my unwillingness to forgive reveals I have not fully received God’s forgiveness? Your will be done on earth as in heaven reflects God’s passionate desire that each of us discover His grace and enter into His freedom, yet the choice is ours. 

The delightful part is that all it takes is to come before God and choose His way.

Lord Jesus, I am yours.