SCRIPTURE: Luke 11:1-4
The Lord’s prayer is a prayer outline, not a fixed form prayer.
The foundation of this prayer is God’s honor and kingdom purpose.
Everything that follows (our needs and requests) are shaped by, and directed towards, God’s honor and kingdom purpose.
Provide for us and help us so that Your Name is honored and Your kingdom comes through us.
Also notice how our requests are plural, mutual.
It’s explicit with forgiveness: forgive us, like we forgive others.
So with our daily bread (feed me… like I feed others).
And with temptation (help me in my struggles, like I help others in theirs).
Jesus’ prayer follows the summary of the Law: love God and love people.
I don’t have to ask if my prayers reflect a ‘me’ focus, but do my prayers reflect this God and neighbor focus?
Do I pray with the same passion for other people’s children, as I do for mine?
And do I am what I ask for, for the honor of God’s Name, and for the advancement of God’s kingdom purpose… or just for my own comfort and happiness?
How does the shape of my prayer compare with Jesus’ prayer outline?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Father, give me what I need today to honor You and advance Your kingdom by feeding and forgiving and helping others.