MATTHEW 6:9-13

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

TO PONDER:

Some 30 years ago, I got to go backstage at an AC/DC concert in Los Angeles, I got to meet the band and talk to them, even though I was not really a fan conversation was difficult due to their rock-superstar status and my being freshly graduated, from a Christian Bible College, young person. I’d like to say that I was cool, calm and collected but I was not (one day I’ll tell the story of having pizza with Tiffany, the 80’s pop star).

In yesterday’s post I talked about the Lord’s Prayer, today’s verses, not being a template on how to pray to get our prayers answered and how its not a magical formula. The Lord’s Prayer is a starting point on how to pray, how to speak to the creator of everything, the original superstar.

I understand when people tell me they don’t know how to pray, what to say, and how to say it. If I was overcome and a tad flustered trying to a talk to one of the worlds Greatest Rock Bands, who really were down to earth “regular” guys, how do I even approach God who is so much beyond me, so far beyond my measly understanding?

While the Lord’s Prayer is not a magical formula, or even a template on getting God to listen, the Lord’s Prayer can be used as a starting point, a springboard into talking to God. We can start praying it word for for word and add to it, adding our own words to each sentence, telling God what it means to us to be his child, adding our own specific needs to “our daily bread”, etc..

When you are unsure of what to say, how to say it, or how to ask the Master of the Universe for something start repeating the Lord’s Prayer to God and launch into your own prayer.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

PRAYER:Almighty God, I thank you for taking an interest in me while you are so much higher than me, so far above, yet you still walk with me daily, you listen to my prayers and talk with me as a loving Father. Amen.

Todays devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside