Daily Devotion for November 17, 2005

Seven-Day series on the Lord’s Prayer - Day Three

 

What Matters Most

 

Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 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 but deliver us from the evil one.'" Amen. Luke 11:2-4

 

What we pray for reveals what really matters to us. These words of Jesus show us what mattered to him, and what we should seek when we approach God.

 

First pray that God's name will be honored. In ancient times, a person’s name meant nature, and the name of a god meant power. "Hallowed be your name" is a prayer that meant more than the name of God, but God's self and God's power will be recognized and honored universally.

 

If God's name is to be honored, God must be revealed to those who should honor God. So we dedicate ourselves to making God's name known.

 

What to pray? Pray that God's kingdom will come. What is that about? Read the parables of the kingdom, the stories of the miracles. They tell us what God wants for the world. Justice. Peace. Forgiveness. Healing. Joy, and more. The kingdom is all about recognizing God's name; doing and celebrating God's will.

 

Jesus didn't limit his pictures of the kingdom to some far-off, dreamy place or time. "Let this be real among us now, Father! Your kingdom come, now! And may our prayers and our lives be directed to revealing your kingdom to all the world."

 

What to pray? Pray that the kingdom's reality will break through into our reality.

 

Pray the Lord's Prayer from Luke 11 slowly, savoring each phrase.

 

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