He said to them, ''When you pray, say:
'' 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.' '' ''
As the Spirit of God helps us, from this prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, let us understand the important elements that must constitute our prayer :
If we meditate, we can discern there are five important elements, Jesus has portrayed in this prayer.
1. Hallowed be your name:
First, we must show reverence for our Father.
God's name must be feared.
When we come into the presence of God to pray, our hearts must be filled with fear of God.
2. Your Kingdom Come:
Seek first His Kingdom - Our hearts must desire God's kingdom, not the world.
3. Give us each day our daily bread:
Then, we should ask what we need. Daily bread also implies means of survival.
When the first and the second elements are strictly adhered, then this third element will be streamlined, for we will then know what to ask.
And we will only ask what pleases God, and therefore we can be sure to receive all we ask, because we have God fearing hearts, that seek His kingdom first.
4. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sin against us:
We should have a forgiving heart.
When we stand in prayer, we should forgive everyone who sinned against us first, before we seek forgiveness of our sins.
''Mark 11 : 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. ''
God's name must be feared.
When we come into the presence of God to pray, our hearts must be filled with fear of God.
2. Your Kingdom Come:
Seek first His Kingdom - Our hearts must desire God's kingdom, not the world.
3. Give us each day our daily bread:
Then, we should ask what we need. Daily bread also implies means of survival.
When the first and the second elements are strictly adhered, then this third element will be streamlined, for we will then know what to ask.
And we will only ask what pleases God, and therefore we can be sure to receive all we ask, because we have God fearing hearts, that seek His kingdom first.
4. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sin against us:
We should have a forgiving heart.
When we stand in prayer, we should forgive everyone who sinned against us first, before we seek forgiveness of our sins.
''Mark 11 : 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. ''
5. Lead us not into temptation:
God does not tempt.
God will allow temptations.
In this phrase , the word ''Lead'' implies, ''direct,'' or ''direction.''
''Lead us not into temptation,'' doesn't mean we should ask God not to let any temptations come upon us, for we will surely have temptations - but it means praying for God's protection that we '' won't be led in the direction of the temptations.''
In the sense, that we won't be led in the direction of evil ways, that make us fall.
We should ask God to preserve our ''ways,'' our ''paths,'' or our ''direction,'' our ''motives'' in order that we don't head or proceed in the ways that make us fall into temptations, and where we give away.
We should ask God to lead us 'into' the right paths and in the right direction.
We should seek God's protection from evil ways.
'' 1 Corinthians 10 : 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.''
These are the Five elements that our prayer must comprise of.
God will allow temptations.
In this phrase , the word ''Lead'' implies, ''direct,'' or ''direction.''
''Lead us not into temptation,'' doesn't mean we should ask God not to let any temptations come upon us, for we will surely have temptations - but it means praying for God's protection that we '' won't be led in the direction of the temptations.''
In the sense, that we won't be led in the direction of evil ways, that make us fall.
We should ask God to preserve our ''ways,'' our ''paths,'' or our ''direction,'' our ''motives'' in order that we don't head or proceed in the ways that make us fall into temptations, and where we give away.
We should ask God to lead us 'into' the right paths and in the right direction.
We should seek God's protection from evil ways.
'' 1 Corinthians 10 : 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.''
These are the Five elements that our prayer must comprise of.
Now, there are three important ''Parameters'' we must adhere to, if we want to have a result oriented, successful prayerlife.
'' Luke 11 : 9,10
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened. ''
So, the three important parameters are :
'' Luke 11 : 9,10
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened. ''
So, the three important parameters are :
1.Ask
2.Seek
3.Knock
2.Seek
3.Knock
Among the three, ''Seek'' comes with a constraint.
And the constraint is :
'' Matthew 6 : 33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness , and all these things will be given to you as well. ''
So, we should FIRST seek ''God's Kingdom'' and ''His Righteousness.''
When we seek these FIRST, its then everything else will be given us.
This means, ''Ask'' and ''Knock'' will yield results only when we ''Seek'' God's Kingdom and His righteousness.
If we seek anything beyond God's kingdom and His righteousness first, then ''Ask'' and ''Knock'' will become void and non-functional for us.
And we will not see any output when we ask and knock, while we don't seek God's kingdom and His righteousness - first !
In the sense, we need to grow into child like innocence when it comes to evil, and child like obedience when it comes to keeping the commands, if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven.
As we advance in our years and mature physically, spiritually we ought to become more and more like little children, and humble ourselves and come under the parenthood of God.
We ought to make God our Father, our Teacher, our Counsellor, our Friend, and our Lord.
We ought to allow His dominion in all the spheres of our lives, so that we are no grown-up independent adults anywhere, who take independent decisions, but we only allow our Lord Jesus to Lord over us and rule over our lives.
And it is our Lord who decides every simple matter for us.
'' Mark 10 : 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. ''
As we mature in our age, we ought to mature into humility , by growing more into obedience to His Word, from smaller to bigger affairs of our lives, adhering to the instruction of our Lord in all we do.
May God Bless and grant us grace to live in this knowledge of Truth and may our prayers become a pleasant aroma for Him.
God Bless You.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness , and all these things will be given to you as well. ''
So, we should FIRST seek ''God's Kingdom'' and ''His Righteousness.''
When we seek these FIRST, its then everything else will be given us.
This means, ''Ask'' and ''Knock'' will yield results only when we ''Seek'' God's Kingdom and His righteousness.
If we seek anything beyond God's kingdom and His righteousness first, then ''Ask'' and ''Knock'' will become void and non-functional for us.
And we will not see any output when we ask and knock, while we don't seek God's kingdom and His righteousness - first !
Even in the prayer Jesus taught the disciples, in Luke 11 : 2-4, before asking for daily bread, He put the kingdom of God first.
He said, '' Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. ''
First and foremost thing, is having fear of God, showing reverence for Him, and seeking His kingdom.
Then comes, '' Give us our daily bread. ''
'' Luke : 11: 2-4
He said to them, ''When you pray, say:
'' ' Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation. ' '' ''
First and foremost thing, is having fear of God, showing reverence for Him, and seeking His kingdom.
Then comes, '' Give us our daily bread. ''
'' Luke : 11: 2-4
He said to them, ''When you pray, say:
'' ' Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation. ' '' ''
So, ''Seeking'' His kingdom holds the top priority , above asking and knocking.
Once we Seek His Kingdom, all that we ask and knock will be given us and opened for us.
Once we Seek His Kingdom, all that we ask and knock will be given us and opened for us.
Now, Seeking the kingdom of God:
'' Matthew 18 : 3, 4
And he said : '' I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. '' ''
So, there is a rule of thumb , if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven.
And the rule of thumb is, we should change and become like little children.
'' Matthew 18 : 3, 4
And he said : '' I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. '' ''
So, there is a rule of thumb , if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven.
And the rule of thumb is, we should change and become like little children.
In the sense, we need to grow into child like innocence when it comes to evil, and child like obedience when it comes to keeping the commands, if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven.
As we advance in our years and mature physically, spiritually we ought to become more and more like little children, and humble ourselves and come under the parenthood of God.
We ought to make God our Father, our Teacher, our Counsellor, our Friend, and our Lord.
We ought to allow His dominion in all the spheres of our lives, so that we are no grown-up independent adults anywhere, who take independent decisions, but we only allow our Lord Jesus to Lord over us and rule over our lives.
And it is our Lord who decides every simple matter for us.
'' Mark 10 : 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. ''
As we mature in our age, we ought to mature into humility , by growing more into obedience to His Word, from smaller to bigger affairs of our lives, adhering to the instruction of our Lord in all we do.
May God Bless and grant us grace to live in this knowledge of Truth and may our prayers become a pleasant aroma for Him.
God Bless You.
