Give us this day
The disciples come to Jesus and ask, “Lord, teach us to pray.” So, Jesus teaches them a Model Prayer. I suggest it is an outline of how we are to pray and it is one that we can use on a regular basis.
We come first to magnify His name and His person, “Our Father.” Spend time there thanking Him for all that was done so that you could know Him as Abba.
Then we come remembering who He is, “in Heaven.” He is on the Throne and He is Holy, Holy, Holy. Praise Him with great praise.
From there Jesus gives us three petitions,
And then there is a shift…your, your, your to “give us.” Prayer should start with adoration, with praise, and with statements of thanksgiving and then we are invited to come to Him with absolute trust and ask for the things that are on our heart.
Notice how Jesus leads us…daily bread is the physical need of the present. Forgive us our debts as we forgive others is the emotional need from the past. And then He led us not into temptation is the spiritual need of the future. Past, present, and future all wrapped up in one prayer!
Years ago, I found some rules for prayer when we come asking for our daily needs.
First, be confident, but admit your need. “Give us this day.” Not, sell us, or loan us, but give us. We must see that we are needy and that He is the One who can meet our need.
Second, learn to enjoy the fellowship. Think of it…the God who is on the Throne, who spoke the world into existence, and who holds the world together is the One to whom we are invited to come with something like “daily bread.” He cares for us!
Finally, trust the Father to do what is best. Tim Keller spoke about the things we want. He said, we will never be ready for Aladdin’s Lamp. What if you got everything you wanted when you were 8? Well, you might say, “I was an idiot when I was 8, but I am 18 now—I know what I want.” To that some of you might respond—“I was an idiot when I was 18, but I am 28 now—I know what I want. I can handle the genie.” To that some of you would respond—28! I was an idiot back then, but now that I am 65, I know what I want. And to that someone might say, “65?...” Do you know what this is saying? We are always idiots when it comes to what we want!
We must ask, but we must also trust God to do what is best!
We come first to magnify His name and His person, “Our Father.” Spend time there thanking Him for all that was done so that you could know Him as Abba.
Then we come remembering who He is, “in Heaven.” He is on the Throne and He is Holy, Holy, Holy. Praise Him with great praise.
From there Jesus gives us three petitions,
- Hallowed be your name,
- Your kingdom come,
- Your will be done.
And then there is a shift…your, your, your to “give us.” Prayer should start with adoration, with praise, and with statements of thanksgiving and then we are invited to come to Him with absolute trust and ask for the things that are on our heart.
Notice how Jesus leads us…daily bread is the physical need of the present. Forgive us our debts as we forgive others is the emotional need from the past. And then He led us not into temptation is the spiritual need of the future. Past, present, and future all wrapped up in one prayer!
Years ago, I found some rules for prayer when we come asking for our daily needs.
First, be confident, but admit your need. “Give us this day.” Not, sell us, or loan us, but give us. We must see that we are needy and that He is the One who can meet our need.
Second, learn to enjoy the fellowship. Think of it…the God who is on the Throne, who spoke the world into existence, and who holds the world together is the One to whom we are invited to come with something like “daily bread.” He cares for us!
Finally, trust the Father to do what is best. Tim Keller spoke about the things we want. He said, we will never be ready for Aladdin’s Lamp. What if you got everything you wanted when you were 8? Well, you might say, “I was an idiot when I was 8, but I am 18 now—I know what I want.” To that some of you might respond—“I was an idiot when I was 18, but I am 28 now—I know what I want. I can handle the genie.” To that some of you would respond—28! I was an idiot back then, but now that I am 65, I know what I want. And to that someone might say, “65?...” Do you know what this is saying? We are always idiots when it comes to what we want!
We must ask, but we must also trust God to do what is best!
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Praying to Continue in the FaithPraying as I ReadKeeping in Step with the Holy SpiritA Page from my Prayer JournalLiving a Spirit Filled LifeSaturated in the Word as we Pray the WordAbounding in LovePraying for the LostFilled with the FullnessWalk by the SpiritLed by the SpiritLive by the SpiritKeep in Step with the SpiritSpiritual RhythmsLife is War so PrayChasing HolinessPrayer as a Wartime Walkie TalkieGod has given us everything we needChanged as we get to know GodDivine NatureAbba FatherAbba in HeavenHallowed be Your nameKingdom ComeYour will be doneGive us this day
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2024
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