Day 5 | The Lord’s Prayer: Part 1
Matthew 6:9–10 (ESV)
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
OBSERVATION
In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus teaches us how to pray. Notice how Jesus shows us to acknowledge the Father before our requests, our regrets, and anything else. Jesus points us to God and his holiness. This is so important because sometimes we lose sight of a beautiful reality: that the God of the universe, the creator of all things, loves us so deeply that we can call out to him and he will hear us. We have access to an intimate relationship with the one true God! Isn’t that amazing?
Next, Jesus shows us that we should accept that God’s will takes priority. His will is higher and greater than ours will ever be. This might be easy to understand, but it is difficult to do. Sometimes, we like to have full control of our lives, but there are no better hands for our lives to be in than God’s. When we pray, we must realize that God is and should be in control. So, by praying to Him, by trusting in Him, we are releasing the “steering wheel” of our lives to Him.
1 John 5:14 says, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (ESV). The beauty of this first part of the Lord’s prayer is the overwhelming access that God has given us to himself and his kingdom. Today, here and now, we can have confidence in God, and he will hear us! Today, here and now, we can see God’s kingdom here on earth!
APPLICATION
When you pray, take a moment to think… You are about to speak with the one true living God. It’s overwhelming, isn’t it? So, when you pray, honor God before all else and give Him control over every situation because he has it under control!
PRAYER
Dear God, you are higher and greater than all things. I am so thankful that I get to speak to you. I have confidence in you and in your will. Today, I give up the “steering wheel” of my life to you. You can do more with my life than I can on my own. You are good and your will is good, help me to see your kingdom here on earth and to trust in you. Amen.