Personal Reflections and contemplations

On the Lord's Prayer

The Lord's prayer is: Our Father Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed by Thy name, thy Kingdom Come, Thy will Be Done. On Earth as It Is in Heaven. Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread, and Forgive Us Our trespasses as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us. Lead Us Not into Temptation, but Deliver Us From Evil. In Christ Jesus Our Lord, for Thine Is The Kingdom, Power, and Glory forever, Amen. 

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I have heard different reflections and interpretations of this wonderful prayer taught to the disciples, and us directly by the Lord.  if you are familiar with or pray this prayer frequently, sometimes it is recited or prayed so quickly, that we don't always stop and listen to what we are praying to God. I will attempt to reflect on each line by the Grace of God:

• Our Father Who Art in Heaven Hallowed be Thy Name. When you pray this first line, do you really look up to God as your own personal Creator, Father, Lord and Savior? if you in that moment truly believe you are addressing the creator of heaven, earth, and the universe as your own personal father, do you truly believe you personally speaking to Him just like when you are personally speaking with your earthly parents or family? If you do believe you are addressing God as a son or daughter, then you should also strive daily to do his to please him just like you try to please your parents or significant others in your life. This also means you are trusting in Him that he will provide for your needs as Jesus has told us to not worry about our lives and not to be anxious. Do you try to consecrate the name of the Lord and keep it Holy when you utter it or do you take the Lord's name in vain or say it without proper regard? 

• Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done On Earth as it is in Heaven. When you pray this, do you truly wish daily for the coming of the Kingdom of God and all its Glory? we should be living and looking forward to the coming of the Lord's Kingdom by living Godly and spiritual lives and not to be interested in an early life and riches, but a heavenly and eternal life with God. I am sure you have questioned some things in the world or in your life, I definitely have in my own life. When we pray Thy Will Be Done, do we truly want and wish for the Will of God to be done or do we want our will to be done and question God's will? if we pray and wish for this we should trust in the will of God that it is working for the best in His own timing even when your circumstances are difficult and we just don't understand it. God's Will, will be revealed in time. Keep in mind that this "time" may not be during your time on earth.  God's Will and wish is that everyone is saved, repents and believes in Jesus to receive eternal life. We are praying for God's will that is in Heaven to be also applied to Earth and not our own wills.

• Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread .This goes back to trust in the Lord that he will provide for us as he tells us to look a the birds of the heaven, how they do not sow or reap, and the Lord provides for them; so how much more will he provide for us, his own creation in his image? We need to trust that God will provide our daily needs, income, and material things; and won't let us go without. But we need to focus first on the Kingdom of heaven and not worry so much about our earthly needs as all of us do from time to time or all the time.

• Forgive Us Our trespasses as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us. This maybe one of the hardest commandments from God in my opinion. To forgive each other, even our enemies. Many people can hurt us or offend us everyday and you maybe justified in the hurt or offense you are feeling in that moment, but Jesus was very clear that if we do not forgive those who trespass against us or offend us, he will not forgive us! This also reminds me of the Parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35). The servant owed his lord much money and when he begged for forgiveness, his Lord was merciful and forgave him his debt. this servant then went out and found another fellow servant who owed him a little money. the fellow servant also begged for forgiveness of his debt but the first servant who was forgiven, did not likewise forgive his fellow servant and demanded that he be repaid. when the Lord of both servants found out what the first servant did, he became angry and threw this servant in prison until his debt is all repaid. This parable applies here in that God paid the ultimate price and died for us so that our debts and sins can all be forgiven through Jesus. He is asking us to then likewise forgive everyone who offends us or treat us unfairly so that God will also forgive us.

• Lead Us Not into Temptation, but Deliver Us From Evil. The devil is always active and he is described in the Bible as a roaming lion looking for anyone he can devour. The devil is the accuser and will always find creative ways to tempt us and push us off the walk with Christ by any mean necessary. He does not sleep or rest but his sole occupation is to tempt you and lead you to fall away from the spiritual life because he is the father of all lies and is the enemy of God and everything that is Good. We pray for God's protection, mercy and help to deliver us from temptations spiritual or earthly that will inevitably be presented to us or in our lives. God is faithful and he does not allow us to be tempted more than that we can bear and will always provide an escape but we need to stay close to him and cry aloud for strength and forgiveness to not fall into temptation.

• In Christ Jesus Our Lord, for Thine Is The Kingdom, Power, and Glory forever, Amen. We always pray in Jesus name that our prayers are answered. Jesus told us to ask and pray in his name so that our requests and prayers are answered according to his will.

May God accept our prayers and requests and give us the grace and blessings to apply the words of the Lord's prayers truthfully in our lives.

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