Praying as Jesus taught Us

Taking time aside to pray is so precious. Yet also so challenging isn’t it?!

To stop what we’re doing and wait upon the Lord, listening to Him and declaring our dependence on Him. It takes intentionality and discip-line doesn’t it? But once we do, what a delight to be in God’s presence experiencing His loving embrace and encouraging words.

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, as we enter into this time with you today…thank you for Jesus, your precious one and only Son who gave His life for each one of us. And thank you Jesus for teaching us how to pray. And thank you Holy Spirit for quickening our hearts as we pray. One God in three Persons, the mystery of the Trinity.

Bible Verse:

“‘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 sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

Your’s is the Kingdom, the power and glory.

Forever and ever. Amen

(Matthew 6:9-13 NIV/ NLT)

Reflection:

We’re going to have the joy over the next number of weeks to reflect prayerfully on the Lord’s Prayer.

To begin:

“Our Father”

Reflects the intimacy we have with the living God.

He is your Father and mine.

We can talk with Him like Papa or Daddy, God.

One of my adult daughters fondly calls me Papa, like a loving nickname.

That’s how close God is to each one of us.

Reflect on that for a moment.

Reflect on His amazing love and kindness to you.

Sometimes I picture myself as a child curled up on the Heavenly Father’s knee with Him embracing me.

Can you feel His embrace today? Can you experience His love and kindness towards you?

He may be in Heaven. Yet by His Spirit He lives in you and me. And through Jesus we have access to the Father’s loving embrace.

Just pause right now and experience it deeply. It changes everything!

Prayer:

Thank you Heavenly Father for your embrace. Thank you for changing everything. My daily challenges, my difficulties and confusions all find hope and answers in you, Heavenly Father. You are in Heaven. Yet by your Holy Spirit you live in me transforming my life each day. Be near to me now. Be near to me in all I do and all I say that I may reflect your Son, Jesus.
Amen.