Tuesday 10 July, 2018

5 “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. 6 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. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Jesus makes clear that prayer is not a ritualistic act but a relational one. It is relationship between father and child. Therefore, it is important that I don’t try to make the Lord’s Prayer ritualistic, rather, it is like a reminder of who my Father is so that I am confident in my relational prayers with him:

• He is my Father
• He is God, and life only makes sense when I honour him
• He has a mission and asks me to be part of it
• He wants to provide for my needs
• He wants to forgive me but expects that I will forgive others
• He will enable me to overcome all that is evil

As I read this list, it makes me want to pray!!

My Father, thank you for this wonderful revelation of who you are! I couldn’t be more blessed then to be called your son, look at all these blessings, help me introduce others to their Father as well.

Written by Andrew Mellor