By teaching us the Lords Prayer, Jesus is offering us more than the right words to say. He is giving us the keys to a more inimate,
fruitful, and fulling relationship with his heavenly Father. Today, Let's focus on several pharses in this prayer to see how they can help us
deppen our friendship with him.
Our Father (Matthew 6:9). You have the same heavenly Father as Juesus, and as his adopted son or daughter, you belong to him.
In fact, you can be just as secure in his love for you as Jesus was - and as any child is who has a good and loving parent.
Thy will be done (Matthew 6:10). Your Father wants you to pray for his will to be done because it's what wll bless you in the most
perfect way. He sees a much bigger picture than you do. This requires you to trust that his way is better than yours and to obey him, even
when you'd rather go your own way.
Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11)
God wants you to depend on him to provide for all your needs. He is the source of everything you have - every breath you take, every bite of food
you eat, and every other blessing you enjoy. Beyond just material blessings, he wants you to ask him for the grace, strength, and love you need to
follow
him each day.
Forgive us our trespasses(Matthew 6:12)
Your Father sent his Son to earth to open the way to heaven. He wants everyone to be saved. All he asks of you is to repent of your sins and try
your best to follow him. He knows how hard this can be, so he promises that every time you say the Lord's Prayer, you have the opportunity
to be reconciled with him.
Love, trust, obedience, dependence, and repentance. Today, as you pray the Our Father, consider how it contains within
itself the ingredients for the kind of relationship that God desires with each one of us. Thank him for the ways you've experienced his
fatherly care in your life - and then keep the conversation going!
"Jesus, thank you for teaching me how to pray 'to my Father and you Father, to my God and your God" (John 20:17)