the Lord's Prayer

What is prayer?

sometimes it is saying good morning to God as you wake up, sometimes it is pouring out your heart to God in the midst of pain and frustration,

sometimes it is sharing the joy of being alive.

In the time of Jesus, there were some set prayers, just as we have some standard prayers today. I am guessing some of you learnt ‘now lay me down to sleep…’ when you were younger. some of you will have a standard grace you say before meals. Some Christian groups have particular prayers they say together.

Prayer was something that Jewish people were familiar with.

Jewish teachers, like Jesus, often taught their disciples to pray.
Here Jesus isn't teaching a prayer, but how to pray.
Notice Jesus starts with 'when you pray' not ' if you pray' . it is assumed that people will pray, that it is a concept they are familiar with.

 

a few things to notice,

it is OUR father, not MY father.

also prayer is about relationship with God and all of God’s creation, it isn’t about being seen to be praying J
and the pattern:

 When you pray

   Start with God
    Align yourself with Gods plan
     Our basic physical needs
    Our need for forgiveness and grace
  Our need for God’s guidance so we don't go off track
And then end with recognising that God is God.

Skit**  Lord’s Prayer – two voices

Prayer is aligning our life to God, not dragging God into our whirlpool of busyness, stress, desires etc.

Prayer is putting ourselves into Gods space, and seeking to let God, and Gods will for us, to grow more in our lives.

Prayer is acknowledging the brokenness and beauty of all of God’s creation, and seeking our place in abundant living for all.

“  ..  in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus directs our concern to God, ourselves, and our neighbour, and for the strength to care for all three. It’s that simple. That profound. That important. And so worth slowing down and considering what we’re actually praying for.” [David Lose: In the Meantime  Posted: 17 Feb 2014]

** the Skit is based on one from the book, "If God Talked Out Loud" by Clyde Lee Heering, 1977