How To Talk To Our Father - Part 2

Since we have entered a new year, you will recall from last week’s eHomily, that I thought it would be a good time to remind us, How to Talk to Our Father. This is Part 2 of this devotional thought. We begin with The Lord’s Prayer—

Our Father in heaven,
Holy is Your name,
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer begins and ends with God’s exaltation. Our first concern in our prayers should be for God to be glorified through our prayers. Even so for our lives. This is where a vital prayer life begins. But notice, how it extends. The Lord’s Prayer naturally divides into two parts: from “Your” to “our” – from God’s exaltation to our supplication (requests). So this next section is about our needs. This will be our focus today.

So what should be our requests? Pray for—

Material needs (v.11)

> “Give us this day our daily bread”

Bread represents material needs. God is the primary source of those blessings. The words this day show the way He meets those needs. The Greek word used here means sufficient for today. We pray to receive what is needful today.

Spiritual needs (v.12-13)

> “Forgive us our debts…”
 
The word forgive means to cancel or send away. Jesus thought of sin as debts owed to God. Sins were failures to give to God what is due Him (honor and glory). We ask forgiveness for this failure of honor and glory. Then He adds, “as we forgive our debtors.” One who is himself ready to forgive can only experience forgiveness.
 
> “And lead us not into temptation”

This is the permissive imperative in the Greek and is translated best, “Do not allow us to be led into temptation.” This prayer is a prayer of surrender to the Lordship and leadership of God. It is a plea for God’s help to avoid sin.

> “but deliver us from the evil one”

To be delivered means to be rescued. The word evil (tou poneyrou) with a definite article before evil literally means “the evil one” – Satan. It is a petition to be delivered from all evil, including the source of evil.  

Finally, we pray this so that our lives may glorify our God. It ends with an acknowledgement “For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” The entire prayer points us to a life that gives God glory. This is a worthy prayer for us all! Pray about it…

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron