Thursday, June 22, 2006

The Best Prayer Ever

Jesus said to his disciples:

"In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."This is how you are to pray:

'Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'

"If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions." Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus gave us a perfect prayer. A prayer that praises God first (most important part).

Jesus shows us it's important to first of all praise God in our prayers, then to ask for our needs. But he also asks us to pray for the sins we have to ask to be forgiven them. To forgive others. In this prayer we are to ask to not be led into temptation, but to be delivered from evil.

This is a highly misused prayer, we say it so fast, without realizing how mocking we have become. Because the first part truly does honor God. And when we routinely offer this prayer anytime of day it's done in a no nonsense fashion, without thought. And to think this is the one genuine prayer of Jesus in the Word of God to show us how to pray.

Just like Jesus goes on to say after, if you forgive others your Father will forgive you. That includes yourself, because if you forgive others and not yourself then you hold back God's forgiveness. Next time we do an Our Father, think first of honoring God, it is a third of the prayer. God comes first and foremost. Then the prayer to Our Father will be more beautiful to say.

No comments: