Listening in and through the Greatest Prayer

9“This, then, is how you should pray:

“ ‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name, (Matthew 6:9)

Thoughts: Many speak of listening to God in prayer.  The scriptures speak of the Holy Spirit helping us to pray and giving us the right words and inner groaning (Rom. 8:26).  So the Spirit encourages us to pray in certain way- and as we listen to His promptings and as we listen for God's peace and wait on God we may hear something of God's character and voice.
      In this great prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray in this way.  It is a prayer not merely to be respected, it was meant to be a rabbinic memorized prayer by the followers of Jesus; used as both a model and as an actual prayer.  In commanding us to pray this way, He would have us listen to the prayer that the Spirit gives us through His Word.
       "Our Father."  God is not merely our God Almighty high and above us.  He is above us with might and respect as a father is above a young child.  Jesus taught his followers to pray "Abba, Father" (Mk. 14:36; Gal. 4:6; Rom. 8:15).  This is a name of trust and love.  Listen to the love Jesus commands us to have for God in prayer.
       "In heaven."  God is with us as Father.  But He is also transcendent- in heaven.
       "hallowed be thy name."  The name of God is to be treated with holiness and respect (3rd commandment).  
      All in all, God calls us to listen to Him with love, respect, and holiness.  

Prayer: Father, let your character flow to and through me.  Give me ears to hear your Spirit speaking in prayer.  

9/4/12- Daily Bread

Give us this day our daily bread... (Matthew 6:11)

All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time.  28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand,
    they are satisfied with good things. (Psalm 104:27,28)

Thoughts: Contrary to some, the government is not the one who gives us our provision.  Our bootstraps and intelligence do not give us our provision.  All that we see is not made by us.  God made it all.  But more than that, God did not just create it all, He actively gives us daily bread.  God is not someone who acted in the past in creation- so that the prayer reads "you gave us our bread."  Rather, each day God in a new provides for us.  Daily bread is fresh bread, and God provides for us freshly each and every day.

Prayer: Lord, I look to you to provide for me this day and every day.  Help me, and give me the health and ability to work and honor you.

9/3/12- Daily Bread

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. (Proverbs 30:8) 

Thoughts: Jesus' words call to memory Proverbs 30:8 which asks God not to give me too little or too much.  But Jesus changes it a bit- it is not "give me" but "give us." Christians are called not to be just concerned about ourselves, but also about the bread of others.  It is a good saying (Bruce Waltke quoted in Tim Keller's "Generous Justice") that "the righteous disadvantage themselves to the advantage of others, while the wicked are willing to disadvantage the community to advantage themselves."  Who is the us here that we are to pray for daily bread for?  Some say the world, some say believers, some say our families or the church we are in praying this prayer.  Jesus leaves it purposefully vague- but it is an admonition to not think only about ourselves.  If we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, then we should care about their getting bread just as if we were hungry for bread ourselves.  Jesus is concerned not about that all have luxuries or have the same thing- but He is very concerned that we care about the real needs of others.  To pray this prayer and not care (pray and act) about the bread of others shows a callousness that Jesus did not have when he walked on this earth.  

Prayer: Give me a heart, O Lord, for those who do not have the basic necessities of life.  Give me a compassionate heart for them as you had for me. 

(Sloan translation 2012) Q. 104 WSC- What do we pray for in the fourth request of the Lord's Prayer?
A. In the fourth request, which is "Give us this day our daily bread", we pray that we may receive a necessary portion of the good things of this life- given freely by God- and enjoy His blessings with them. 

(1647) WSC Q. 104- What do we pray for in the fourth petition? A: In the fourth petition, which is "Give us this day our daily bread," we pray that, of God's free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessings with them." 

Kingdom Come- 2nd Petition of Lord's Prayer-

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.  (Matthew 6:33)

Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  (Matthew 6:10)

Q. 102. For what do we pray in the second request?
A. In the second request (your kingdom come) we pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed, that
the kingdom of grace may be advanced, with ourselves and others brought into and kept in it, and
that the kingdom of glory may come quickly.

Thoughts: In the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 6, there is an emphasis on God's kingdom coming, and that we should seek to be a part of its coming.  Jesus points out in this petition of His great prayer and in the admonition to seek first God's kingdom, that life is not about us.  We are created to be something more than trying to make ourselves God.  The larger cause is found in the goodness of God.  God defines goodness, and if we believe that truly, then we will want His kingdom to come.  However, if we think we are the judge of what is good- then we will seek our own kingdom, and try to leave God out.  But, Jesus points out that worry and pressure come when we leave the Prince of Peace out of our kingdom.

Prayer: May I seek your will and kingdom first in my life above all else, God.

8/12/12- Our Father

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, (Matthew 6:9)

He defends the cause of the fatherless.  (Deuteronomy 10:18)

When Jesus saw this [the disciples forbidding the children to see him], he was indignant and said, "Allow the little children to come to me and do not forbid them." (Mk. 10:14)

(Jesus and the little children- Carl Bloch)

WSC Q. 100- What does the introduction of the Lord's Prayer teach us?
A. The introduction of the Lord's Prayer, which is "Our Father who art in heaven" teaches us to draw near to God with holy reverence and confidence, as children draw close to a father who is able and ready to help us, and that we should pray with and for others. 

Thoughts: God cares for those who cannot care for themselves.  He cares for the fatherless and the widow.  The word "fatherless" not only means the orphan, but it could also incorporate those who have earthly fathers, but whose earthly fathers have abandoned them or do not show concern for them. When we have bad fathers, mean fathers, cold fathers, selfish fathers, sinful fathers- God defends the cause of the fatherless against them.
    So this is one reason why churches need to have children and child care as a priority for outreach and care.  It used to be said of Presbyterian missions that wherever a presbyterian mission station was started, a children's school was started as well.  We need to get back to that missionary attitude and reach out to the children of our community. 

Prayer: Help me Lord, to have a tender heart for the children around me, as you did.  

8/2/12- The Hows of Prayer- a Model for Us

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, (Matthew 6:9)

11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” (Lk. 11:1)

Thoughts: In Luke the disciples ask Jesus to teach them a pattern of prayer as John the Baptist followers were taught a prayer (11:1).  Apparently each rabbi had a special prayer that contained the gist of their teachings.
In Matthew the Lord's Prayer is included in the basic teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, early in his ministry.  It is an amazing prayer that has an introduction, conclusion, and petitions in the middle. The part in the middle may be broken into two parts- a part that focuses on God and a part that focuses on humans- as as one person said the love of God and the love of neighbor.  Each of these two parts has three petitions: (1. Hallowed be thy name; 2. Thy Kingdom come, 3. Thy will be done); and (2. Daily bread; 3. Forgiveness; 4) Deliverance from temptation and evil).  We do not need to be dogmatic about how it is broken down.  But anyone can see the beauty of the pattern, but also the depth of the wisdom of Jesus, His care, and His belief in the personal care of a loving God.  

    Jesus was not concerned about our position (standing, sitting, kneeling, prostrate) or whether our eyes were opened or closed or whether we had our hands folded, legs crossed, etc.  The focus for Jesus is on the heart of prayer- the content- to whom we are praying, and what we are praying about.  The other things of prayer are secondary to the content.  In our world we tend to focus on the secondary fluffy things than the heart- but let us not forget the heart.
    From its very nature- as a rabbonic prayer- it is taught to be memorized (remmeber this was a predominantly oral culture), easily taught, and easily prayed.  Yet we must always struggle to not pray this prayer woodenly or with such rote that we cannot put our heart and soul into it.  That is always the struggle in life- to not "can" beauty so much that it loses its heart.  But when we personalize this prayer- by really praying it- lifting up our souls to God in it and through it- it is a real, beautiful, wonderful gift to us.  This prayer helps us to pray, teaches us about God, teaches us about what we really need, and strengthens us. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you have given us prayer as a gift.  Than you for the Lord's Prayer that teaches us how we might properly speak to you. 

7/29/12- Teach Us to Pray

11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

² He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

³ Give us each day our daily bread. ⁴ Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.  And lead us not into temptation.

Thoughts: If you could ask God how we should pray, wouldn't that be helpful?  God in the flesh gave us a prayer that acts as a living, breathing model.  It is not static, but applies to each person each day (for example everyone needs the daily bread- daily forgiveness, daily seeking God's will).
The Lord's Prayer was a prayer meant to be memorized.  In Luke 11:1 we see that it was common practice for teachers (rabbis) to sum up their teaching in a prayer- so Jesus sums his up here. There are two parts to the prayer (with an introduction and doxology surrounding the whole).  One part focuses on God, and the other on us.  There are three petitions- or talking points to each part (6 petitions in all).  This prayer teaches us about God and ourselves.  It is clear from both Matthew 6 (the other rendition of this prayer) and Luke 11 that Jesus simply wishes us to talk to God and do so from the heart.  

Prayer: Lord, do not just teach me to pray- help me to pray- with groans and longings from your Spirit.  Draw me ever closer by the mystery of prayer into the mystery of your love and presence.