When we’re going through a difficult season is recalling truths that we have already learned. One activity that is helpful to us, in our season of restoration and rebuilding, is to write down truth and reflect on it.
We can all rebuild our resiliency by considering what we learn to be true about God, from the Lord’s Prayer.
“Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.'” – Matthew 6:9–13
What does the Lord’s Prayer teach us about who God is?
1. God is available to be in conversation with us.
“Pray like this,”
2. God is worthy of our devotion and best praise.
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.”
Praise – prayer that lifts up God and describes Him
God, I praise you above anyone/anything else!
3. God has a kingdom that he wants to be established among people.
“May your Kingdom come soon.”
Intercession – prayer that asks for the Kingdom of God in our world
God, may your Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy be established and ever expanding here on earth now and forevermore.
4. God has a plan and desires for what is happening on earth.
“May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”
Submission – prayer that puts His will above ours every day
God, please bring me (and everyone else) into alignment with what you prefer, what you would have us be and do.
5. God has provided for us and will provide for us.
“Give us today the food we need,”
Daily request – prayer that recognizes Him as our daily source, making request
Thank you, God for all you have provided. Please continue to supply our needs.
6. God is able to forgive us for our sins.
“forgive us our sins,”
Repentance – prayer that confesses sin, asking for grace and mercy
We confess and forsake our sins. Please forgive us, removing our guilt, restoring our relationship with you, and guiding us on your path.
7. God wants us to forgive others.
“as we have forgiven those who sin against us.”
Forgiveness – prayer that asks for help in forgiving others
Today we forgive those who have hurt us, with the same grace you have forgiven us for the way we hurt you.
8. God wants to help us walk in purity.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation,”
Protection – prayer that asks for help in avoiding temptation
God, please lead us by your Holy Spirit on your path of healthy pure right living.
9. God wants to deliver us from our enemy.
“but rescue us from the evil one.”
Deliverance – prayer that asks for protection from evil
God, please limit our enemy and remove the effects of his work.
10. The one true living God is glorious and more powerful than anything we see.
“For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Priorities – prayer that declares It’s not about me. It’s all about You God!
God, today I give you all the glory, recognizing you know all and have all power.
11. No matter how we are feeling or what we are going through, God is worthy of our devotion, and ready to hear our prayer and respond.
the whole prayer
What should we do?
1. Pray, asking God to help us understand these truths and principles.
2. Think about the Lord’s Prayer, reflect on our time today, write down your observations and questions.
3. Write down truth drawn from the Lord’s Prayer.
4. Reflect on the truths you have written down.
5. Use the Lord’s Prayer as a launch pad for our conversation with God.
6. Share the journey of personal spiritual growth with others.
“We must know the awe of praising his glory, the intimacy of finding his grace, and the struggle of asking his help, all of which can lead us to know the spiritual reality of his presence. Prayer, then, is both awe and intimacy, struggle and reality.” – Timothy Keller Prayer
“If prayer only starts from our thoughts and emotions, then it will be limited by them. We will only ever enjoy part of the relationship with God that He designed. “If God is not the starting point, then our own perceived emotional needs become the drivers and sole focus of our prayer. We cannot grow in a relationship with a person unless we learn who they are.” – Timothy Keller Prayer