“’Our Father In Heaven, Hallowed Be Your Name’”
““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. 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they
think 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.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive
us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you
forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not
forgive your sins.
Matthew 6: 5-15
Our Lord
desires prayers that begin and end with humility. He promises to listen. He
never requires fancy or memorized words or phrases. He assures us that prayer
is a gift, an opportunity to honor His majesty, to display our confidence in
His provision, and to affirm our security in His forgiveness and guidance.
God assures
us He hears and cares about every single spoken and unspoken prayer, as well as
the prayers that slip down our cheeks as silent tears. As we place our trust in
God and His perfect love for us, we can be sure praying with a humble heart that’s
surrendered to and dependent on Him is always the right way to pray.
Calling on Jesus as our loving
Savior and Lord is the right way to pray.
Our Daily Bread – September 16, 2018