After this manner therefore pray ye: *Our Father *which art in heaven, *Hallowed be thy name.
*Thy kingdom come. *Thy will be done in 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 temptations, but *deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13
When a Christian asks God for anything it must be according to His will and he must also be keenly aware of who he is approaching, remembering who he is and who God is, remembering that as he approaches the Lord he is doing so on the basis of his heart attitude towards God. He remembers how God saved Him and loves him and what the conditions of his salvation were. The "Miracle" of our going from death to life, of going from the kingdom of death over to His kingdom of life, will never be understood in human terms. It can only be known to be appreciated and believed!
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
All we know is that through our having faith in Christ (believing that He is going to do all that He says He will do), that one day we were dying and the next we were miraculously Born-Again having a whole new nature! Remembering that we were not made to live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4).
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 10:14-15 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
He has laid down His own Life for us as the price to pay for saving us and allowing us to be a part of His kingdom. He is ready to give and seeks to give us anything that is according to His will for us. God already told us (in Matthew 10:30-31) how the hairs of our heads are all numbered and that we are of far more value than the sparrows, whom He also takes care of. We remember Christ (brought back to memory by the Holy Spirit) and what He has done for us. We can't thank Him enough for saving us. This is the thanks that goes far beyond appreciation. It comes forth from the heart / the spirit.
FIRSTLY, we pray to Our Father, who is in heaven, and thank Him with joy and thanksgiving in our hearts, always remembering that He saved us.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
SECONDLY, we Hallow His Name and ask that His kingdom come, as we openly sing praises to Him from the adulation that is found abounding in our hearts.
Whatever our joy may be (see Hebrews 12:2-3) let us run the race for the prize at the end, praising our Saviour all the day long.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
THIRDLY, we seek to have His will be done, wanting to eat His every word as we forgive others their trespasses against us, for He is holy, and we know and have been shown our place (at the feet of Jesus), where we assume a position of servitude, bowing humbly before Him because He is our God!
As we come before Him we come as humble and unworthy servants who wish to kiss His feet (ever remembering: Matthew 3:11)....
Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
To be great in the kingdom of God is to be humble before men. Therefore on waiting upon the Lord through thanksgiving, praises and our coming to bow low before Him, we can only pray as the Spirit leads, ever remembering who He is and what He's done to save us., and especially remembering that He does love us. So when we come before Him in this way, we can expect an answer -- and with patience we will wait for it.
I - Give Him the Thanks that's due Him....
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
As we are thanking Him for saving us we begin to sing praises to His glorious name! We sing out to the God who is, and was, and is coming again. He is glorious, altogether lovely. Who He is and what He's done are wonderful beyond description. He sings praises to Him from the bottom of His heart in adoration of who He is. He is altogether lovely and beautiful beyong description, and well worthy of our all. Therefore....
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2 - Sing Praises to Him and to His Holy and All-Powerful name....
3 - Be Humbled in His presence and come before Him bowing reverantly in worship and adoration and praise!
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Proverbs 30:8-9 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
May every blessing in Christ be yours,
Biff & Suzanne
