“Our Father In Heaven”
“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they
love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the streets corners, so that
they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your
Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
“When you are praying, do not heap empty phrases as the Gentiles
do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you
need before you ask him.”
“Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread. And forgive our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not
bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you
forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:5-15
We do not have to ask for everything in prayer. Our Father
already knows what our needs are, and He will supply and answer those needs, in
His time, and in His way. What we call “The Lord’s Prayer” is more about living
in a growing, trusting relationship with our heavenly Father than about getting
what we want from Him. As we grow in faith, our prayers will become less of a
wish list and more of an intimate conversation with the Lord.
Prayer is placing ourselves in the presence of God to receive
from Him what we really need.
Our highest privilege is to talk to God;
our highest duty is to listen to Him.
Our Daily Bread –