Quick Thought – Saturday, April 27, 2024: Rethink How We Pray

Read

Matthew 6:5-15

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)

Reflect

Most of us know this passage very well. Even people who don’t go to church seem to know what has come to be known as “The Lord’s Prayer.” You’ve probably prayed it hundreds, if not thousands, of times. But have you ever slowed down long enough to think about what you’re praying?

Consider this rephrasing:

My heavenly Father. Your name is holy.

Please make things happen down here on Earth just like it is where You are in Heaven.

Provide for my needs each day,

And forgive my sins in exactly the same way that I forgive other people when they wrong me.

Also, please don’t let me be tempted, and save me from evil when it finds me. Because it’s your kingdom, your power and your glory that’s important, both now and forever. Amen.

Your exact wording may or may not be different, but it’s important to thoroughly understand what you’re praying instead of just running through it because it’s lodged in your memory. God wants us to pray because we love Him and because we want to do things His way.

Reflection copyright © 2024 Doug DeBolt.

Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.