This reading moves us to the second half of our theme of the “Holy Spirit & Prayer.” The idea of prayer can be foreign to new Christ-followers who wonder what it means to pray. Isn’t Jesus the best source to teach us to pray? The disciples thought so, too. They had often seen Jesus go off on his own to spend quiet time with God. Talking to God is what prayer is all about.
I imagine the disciples wondered what Jesus would ask the Father. For folks who grew up in a Protestant church like I did, these words in our text are familiar. Known as “The Lord’s Prayer,” we find another teaching of Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 6:9-13. The Lord’s Prayer is read weekly by congregations as part of the order of service. What a great prayer to pray in community as well as individually!
Jesus gives us five simple examples to help guide us during our own quiet times with God. First of all, we are to show our respect to God, giving him the honor he is due. To do this, we can call upon the holiness of God, acknowledging that He is awesome and worthy of our praise. A lot of people like to rush to the laundry list of wants and needs during prayer time, so Jesus mentions this first so that our mindset it secure. God is holy.
Next, Jesus prays that God’s kingdom will come. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to look around and realize that God’s Kingdom is not of this world. It can’t be because God is love. 1 John 4:8 says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” While God’s presence is all around us, His Kingdom will ultimately come when Jesus returns. You may have heard other Christians say, “We’re just passing through” or “This is not my home.” Jesus himself said in John 18:36, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom.” With eagerness, we await Jesus’ return, and it seems Jesus wants us to pray for it and be ready for it.
When Jesus tells us to pray for “food,” it goes much deeper than feeding our bellies. Here, Jesus teaches us that we should be asking for the things we need, including food. Think about those needs in your life. What things are holding you back, distracting you from God that you need to get rid of? Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount as follows: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7). We can have confidence that God will provide for our needs when we ask and believe. Such a great perk in return for our trust!
The next prayer prompt is about forgiveness. We may have done some unforgivable things, but Jesus can redeem us. Jesus wants us to confess our sins rather than keep them bottled up inside. We often try to hide our sinfulness from others, but God sees it all.
God is the only one who can cleanse our sinfulness. I love the picture described in 1 John 1:9, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” I don’t know about you, but while it may be hard to confess my wrongdoing and sinful tendencies, I prefer the peace that comes with being cleansed.
Did you catch the “as we” in that petition? God not only expects us to ask for forgiveness but also wants us to forgive those who have sinned against us. If we haven’t forgiven our neighbor, how can we expect to be forgiven? It can certainly be a challenge to forgive others, but Jesus knows it’s best if we do. If you’ve ever forgiven someone and released them for their offense, you know how powerful that can be.
The final wisdom Jesus imparts for our prayer is to ask for protection from temptation. It goes without saying that we are going to face such obstacles. Temptations can be anything that causes us to sin and be separated from God. Think for a moment about some of your own weaknesses. For an alcoholic, for example, avoiding the bar scene can help keep temptations at bay. Ultimately, we pray for God to remove the temptations that weaken our resolve. It’s good to remember our sinful tendencies are what separate us from enjoying the abundance of blessings God has in mind for us.
Feel free to use Jesus’ teachings here as a model for your own prayers. My takeaway is that our prayers or conversations with God should always include more than just our requests and demands. Be sure to show your gratitude and respect for Him, too.
Let’s pray. Father, you are an amazing God, full of truth and love for me despite my own weaknesses. We need you, Jesus! Thank you for all that you supply me each day. Forgive me when I take you for granted. Continue to guide me each step of the way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
