September 12, 2011

today’s meditation verses:

Matthew 6:9-13

9 our father in heaven,

may your name be kept holy.

10 may your kingdom come soon.

may your will be done on earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 give us today the food we need,^a

12 and forgive us our sins,

as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

13 and don’t let us yield to temptation,^b

but rescue us from the evil one.^c

 

This is the Lord’s Prayer as translated in the new living translation. Most of us can quote it from the King James Bible, but I wanted to use the NLT because is brings the prayer into today’s simpler language.

 

For some reason this prayer has been resonating within me lately. Often when I pray these words seem to rise up within me. So, I’ve begun praying this prayer often. Because of that I’ve also begun mediating on the words of this prayer and just exactly what I am praying.

 

Verse 9 acknowledges the holiness of God and prays that His name will be kept holy. As we enter into his gates in prayer, remembering God’s holiness is of supreme importance and will center us in our faith as we do remember.

 

Verse 10 asks for God’s kingdom to come soon. He was teaching this to those gathered around Him prior to His crucifixion and resurrection, therefore His kingdom on this earth had not yet come.  So they were to pray for it to come. Now we are to pray for its increase and that the kingdom here will reflect God’s heavenly kingdom.

 

Verse 11 asks for our daily food. We know that there are ample scriptures about God’s abundant provision and that we have no need to worry about it. But here it does show that we are to continue to pray and request that provision. However to be fed by daily bread may not just mean literal bread but spiritual and emotional nourishment as well.

 

Verse 12 shows us to ask for forgiveness as we forgive those around us. We are perpetually forgiven, but if we want to put a kink in the pipeline of grace which rains that forgiveness down on us, then all we have to do is not forgive others. Note verses 14 and 15.

 

Verse 13 asks God to help us with all the daily temptations that will most assuredly come our way and also asks that he will run interference for us with the enemy, protecting us throughout the day.

 

The preceding verses to this prayer talk about not needing to babble on with long lengthy prayers. I love the simplicity of this prayer that covers so much in such an efficient manner. Learn this prayer and its meaning and then you will no longer have the excuse that you have no time to pray or that you do not know what to pray.

 

Meditating on the meaning of these prayer verses will bring reflection to ours lives. Use this prayer to kick start your prayer life today.

No matter what your beliefs are, I want to thank you for visiting my Christian bible study blog!