The Everyday Prayer

When Jesus taught us to forgive the debts that others owe us, what was He thinking?  He was probably thinking of all the people He knew whose hearts had become hard by holding on to past hurts.  He likely had in mind those who kept insisting on an apology.  He was thinking about the freedom that comes from letting “God be the judge” and the privilege that grace gives us to become like the Father–loving those who do not deserve it.  If God has forgiven me, what possible reason could I give for not wanting to be like Him in this kindness?  Like Father, like Son. When the prodigal came home he put on a robe and a ring.  He relearned the rules of the Father’s house.  This is something else that God deserves from me (see yesterday).  I am to be like Him in mercy.

When Jesus taught us to pray “forgive us our debts”, what was He thinking?  Since a debt is something owed and unpaid, He was probably thinking of all the things that God deserves from us but doesn’t receive.  Day after day, He deserves my whole heart. I give Him part.  He deserves my childlike/bridelike trust.  I give Him anxiety and independence (same thing).  He was thinking how we would all profit from a daily, honest accounting of our failure from the perspective of what God deserves.  Painful?  Yes.  Humbling?  Yes.  Assuring?  Yes.  It does not affect our standing with God, but it does affect our fellowship.  If prayer is honest conversation between people who love each other, shouldn’t we be honest about what is owed and unpaid?  “If you know these things, you will be blessed if you DO them”  (John 13)  When will you take time to admit your debts and ask the Father to forgive?

For the past few days, we have begun this blog moment with the same words, “What was He thinking?”  It is no small question.  True Bible study and , therefore, true prayer (for what we know of prayer we have learned via the scripture’s picture of the Lord in His own prayers) has as it’s first concern the original meaning of the author.  Today as you pray the Lord’s prayer, I hope you will think about Jesus saying these words.  I hope you will imagine how He prayed and why He prayed and what He mean’t.  Don’t be afraid to think! Ask yourself questions.  This is the God who wants us to love Him with our minds.  We will continue this discussion this week.  I just wanted you to know what I was thinking when I ask you “What we HE thinking?”  PS Holly and I had a great few days away at a wedding of a dear Florida friend.  I am anxious to see you on Wed night(study of the book of Acts) or this coming Sunday(John 14).  My love to you all.

What was He thinking?  When Jesus asked God for daily bread after discussing such majestic ideas as God’s kingdom and will, He as probably thinking that the Father sees no sharp difference between His cosmic purposes and our welfare.  We are on His short list of priorities!  Part of His grand purpose is to care for us.  So, Jesus was thinking that asking for help would be helpful.  It helps us to recognize the Father’s provision when it comes.  It continues to break down the wall of independence/ insecurity that normally governs our inner life.  Praying for what we need allows us to to think whether we really do need it or whether we just want it because we are afraid, in which case, the NEED is really something else.   When Jesus taught us to ASK for daily bread it was because God is willing to help.  Asking is just part of the process.

“Yet not as I will , but as you will”. (Matthew 26:39)  I do not pray this prayer easily.  (I do not think Jesus prayed it easily.)  It is hard for me to surrender–what I think, what I choose to do.  Sometimes I pretend respect but then do what I was thinking in the first place because I think my wisdom is best.  (Or maybe because I am just too lazy to challenge old pattens and adopt new ones).  I am probably the only one who does this.  Jesus was more humble than I am.  Go figure!  As a man, He was completely surrendered to the will of the Father.  He welcomed the choices of God, the timing of God, the provision of God.  Praying for God’s will was an sincere exercise for Jesus because He was convinced that God’s will is God’s wisdom.  Our only wisdom is to learn this same lesson.

What was He thinking?  When Jesus prayed for the Kingdom to come, what images filled His mind?  Buckingham palace?  Something similar?  Crowns, thrones, royalty?  Or did He think of His own coming? “I will come again”, he said in John 14 with the main thought being His presence (the King) among His people again.  It was the thought of good government, of order and safety, of protection and prosperity.  Kingdom was a key concept in the mind of the savior.  It was His most hopeful aspiration.  It was what He prayed for and hoped for–that day in the future (already here, but even more glorious later) when all things will be restored to order by His own management.  Is this true for you, dear friend?  Do you look forward to the day when the ONLY important fact is that a good and kind King has come and all things are  subject to His control?

What was He thinking?  When Jesus prayed for God’s name to be hallowed, He was thinking that the human race needs to notice God more than we do and respond with respect.  To be honest, there are days (weeks?) that we move through life without a single moment of recognition/reverence that He is near.  When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up (Isaiah 6), he cried out “Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips”.  To hallow the  Lord, therefore, is to experience an APPROPRIATE DISCOMFORT with our own failure, and an APPROPRIATE SURRENDER to a glorious, worthy God.  Today will you ASK God to create a new awareness in your heart that God is near?  Will you ASK Him to cause a holy reverence to fill the hearts of your children, your friends, the leaders of your church and country?  Consider what the world will be like when He answers this prayer.

What was He thinking?  When Jesus used the word Heaven, what picture did He have in His mind?  What picture did He want us to form in our minds?   In John 6:38, Jesus said He “came down from Heaven”.  In Luke 24:51, the Bible reports that He was “carried up into Heaven” on the day of His ascension.  Obviously, it is a real place, and one that Jesus knew well.   It is also the home and throne of God, the nerve center of a moral and wise government of all time and space.  “Our Father, which art in Heaven”. It is also our future home.  “I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)   Today, as you pray the Lord’s prayer, linger for a moment on the word “Heaven”.  Let yourself  think and feel what it is to have  a “place ” that has been “prepared” for you.  When Jesus talked about Heaven, He thought about going home.

What was He thinking?  When Jesus called God “Father” and taught us to do the same, what did the word mean to Him?  What emotional context did the Lord intend for our prayers?   One clue may be the way he painted the picture of the Father in the story we call “the prodigal son”.  (Luke 15)  Father, for Jesus, is a person of steadfast love.  He does not change.  In the face of his son’s disrespect and public failure, His love stays constant!  He does not reject his son when he stumbles home.  He welcomes him.  Do you have such a Father?  Jesus’ answer is YES! and part of His intention is that you trust your Father to welcome you when you go to Him this morning.  Rejoice, dear friend.  Enjoy!  Your sins have not changed His love for you.  He is your Father.