The Lord\’s Prayer has been used for countless ages and has been a major part of the spiritual growth for millions. It is a concise prayer packed with meaning and message. The following are some thoughts on this simple prayer and the implications it may provide. Although the Lord\’s Prayer is based in Christianity, it can be used in 12-step programs, if one thinks of \”God\” and \”Our Father\” as the higher power of one\’s choice. It is not meant to be theological but rather devotional and spiritual. I hope it sparks some thoughts of your own as you ponder the message.

Our Father

In the beginning of this prayer we see the words \”Our Father\”. Immediately we see that God is the Father of us all. No one has an exclusive right to God; He belongs to all of us and we to Him. He is ours. We see that God is not particular and doesn\’t have favorites. Our Father is one we can all reach out to for help. Our Father tells me that we all belong to one family. As our Father we are all related in this world as brothers and sisters. We belong to a unique family with, many times, common problems. Our Father tells me that we are all included in that family, as far as He is concerned. Our Father keeps me grounded. It tells me I have a beginning, an origin. I am not a mistake or a chance happening. I am created and come from the Infinite One. I am not an after thought but have a purpose. I am somebody to Him. I am His son or daughter, His child and precious in His sight. My family tree starts with Him at the top. Because He is my Father I am not a wandering vagabond through life but am part of something bigger than I am. What that is I may not know right now but will know as I spend time with Him more and more. With that I draw courage, value, hope and comfort.

Which art in heaven

Somebody once said that things look different from above. The perspective of God is from heaven. This tells me He is over all. Looking down and observing all that happens. From heaven God sends forth His blessings, His angels, and His love. From heaven He orders the universe and keeps it in time. He orders the planets and their orbits. From heaven He orchestrates worlds into existence. From heaven He can order my life as well. He can see from above the direction I need to go and the path I need to take. From heaven He can send forth agencies to aide me in my journey. From heaven He can safeguard me from harm and keep a watchful eye on me. From heaven God rules in His majesty with clarity. Nothing escapes his gaze or notice. Nothing can take Him by surprise. When I feel alone I can remember that from heaven God\’s countenance is always upon me. I am not alone for He is with me watching over me, giving me a sense of peace and comfort. I remember once teaching my son to ride his bike for the first time. Every once in a while he would look over and see if I was still running next to him and he would draw courage to continue trying. I feel the same with God.

Hallowed be Thy name

Hallowed, holy, sanctified is the name of Our Father. It is a name above all names. It is a name that surpasses all others. It is holy and reverenced. It is powerful enough to cast out demons, to heal the sick, to redeem the life. It is a name to be respected since it is the name of the One who created us. It is a name given among men whereby we can be saved. This name has brought peace to all who call on it. To all who search for it and breaths it have found respite in the storms of life. It is not a name to be trifled with but one that begs our respect and reverence. God\’s name is holy just as He is holy. Names in the bible often described the character of the one possessing it. God\’s name is holy just as His character is holy. He is the blameless one, the mighty one, the prince of peace. He is who He is. To Moses He told him to tell the people that \”I AM sent you\” Literally, \”I will be who I will be\”. He is holy yet approachable. He is sovereign over all.

Thy Kingdom come

His kingdom is from everlasting. His kingdom is not of this world but its principles are lived out in our hearts when surrendered to Him. His kingdom came to this earth in the beginning but our first parents forfeited it to the enemy. Yet His kingdom comes. It has been established and will again be established. It is unstoppable, marching forward, determined, and will prevail. This kingdom is His kingdom. It has principles that guide it; there is a law that governs it. It belongs to Him. He sets the rules of this kingdom. It is far better than any kingdom we can come up with. His kingdom is written in the hearts of all those who have turned to our Father. It is a kingdom whose chief principle is love. Love is the foundation of this kingdom. With this love there is acceptance, forgiveness, freedom from guilt. There is hope and deliverance in this love. Love underlines every impulse of this kingdom, every action, every thought; every reason has love behind it. It is the love that our Father himself has; pure, without a hitch, without demanding something in return or a price for it. You can be a part of this kingdom if you want to; if you choose to and ask to be a part of it. You can begin to live that same principle of love and enjoy being an heir to this kingdom. It is like no other kingdom you have ever experienced because it is Our Father\’s kingdom.

Thy will be done, on earth

Our Father has a will. His will is that you and I might be a part of His world. His will is that you and I live in a home where no one can come and take; to live in peace with Him and enjoy eternity together. Our Father\’s will is that you and I not be slaves to addictions or pain. His will is that you and I live in harmony without having any troubles. Free from sickness, death and misery. His will is that this world be made new for us. His will must be placed over our own will. My will has made a mess of my life at times so it is time for my will to take a rear seat. I have the choice today to follow God\’s will for my life. His will is not listened to much in this world anymore and we are all reaping the results of that. Today I can surrender my will to His and begin to enjoy the fruits of His will.

As it is in heaven

God\’s will is followed in heaven and heaven hums with complete joy and peace. In heaven, the angels come to trust in God and His will. They have learned of His will and enjoy the life you and I were intended to enjoy but have lost. In heaven there is harmony and love from following the will of the Father. Today we have the opportunity to choose to follow the will of the Father or not. Consider when you followed your own will and the results of that. A lot of times we end up with egg on our faces but it need not be that way always. Let us learn the lesson of heaven and begin to follow the will of the Father. The will Our Father has given us is the freedom to choose. Our task is to surrender that will to Him and exchange it for His. So we can choose correctly. In time, our will is totally replaced with His and we benefit.

Give us this day our daily bread

This request comes after we acknowledge Him as our provider. He promises to give us our daily portion to sustain us for today. Just for today because the cares of this day are plenty for us to handle and so He sustains us today. We ask because we know He can provide. We ask humbly for our sustenance today not greedily for tomorrows as well because we only have today.

And forgive us our debts

We ask for His forgiveness, redemption and grace. We ask for forgiveness because the burdens of carrying them around with us daily is a burden we cannot bear. We have tried that before and it did not feel too good. We tried to forget the pain or guilt but it haunted us, plagued us, and gave us misery. We tried other means but that nearly did us in. Today we ask for forgiveness so the burden can be cast off.

As we forgive our debtors

Our challenge is to be as forgiving of others as Our Father is toward us. We cannot afford to live with the resentment anymore. It is hurting us more than the person or thing we resent. It is the poison we take hoping the other dies. We forgive because we have been forgiven. We forgive so we can have peace. We cannot repay the forgiveness God has given us so we have no right to demand that of others. We freely forgive so we can have the peace and live in love, in Our Fathers kingdom of grace.

And lead us not into temptation

It is not our Father\’s will that His children are tempted to do wrong. Our Father wants us to live without the temptations of the world and can help us to avoid the pitfalls that so easily beset us. As we pray to Our Father we can ask Him to guide our steps so we avoid the temptations. As we follow His principles for living we limit the temptations and are safeguarded from them. Our part is to learn of those principles as we spend time with Him. As we meet a temptation He promises to give us a way of escape so we can stand and not fall. He promises His Spirit to guide and lead us.

But deliver us from evil

Imagine a life that is free from evil. Sit and contemplate what that might look like. Our Father is able to give us that kind of life. Our Father is able to deliver us from evil\’s influence, evils power, evils desires. Deliverance is possible through Our Father. Our Father can give us a heart that has a disdain for evil. Imagine what that might look like for you. The things you once loved you now hate and the things you wouldn\’t give a second glance at are now your passion. Imagine a heart that desires Our Father more than anything and shuns evil. It can happen to you as you surrender to Our Father.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory

We ask these things from Our Father because we believe He has the power to deliver. We believe Him because He has already given us some victories in our life. We believe because He is sovereign over all things. We ask because His rule is right, just and good. We ask believing He has the power over all things in our lives and He has our best good at heart. His kingdom endures, His kingdom has power, and His kingdom is glorious.

For ever and ever amen

Our Father\’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. It will outlast all others.

Chaplain, Ken Davila, M.Div, BA

Kenneth grew up in many different countries and states. Kenneth completed his BA in Theology in Texas and completed his graduate work in Berrien Springs Michigan.

www.valleyhope.org

Chaplain, Ken Davila, M.Div, BA
Kenneth grew up in many different countries and states. Kenneth completed his BA in Theology in Texas and completed his graduate work in Berrien Springs Michigan.
http://www.valleyhope.org

Author Bio: Chaplain, Ken Davila, M.Div, BA

Kenneth grew up in many different countries and states. Kenneth completed his BA in Theology in Texas and completed his graduate work in Berrien Springs Michigan.

www.valleyhope.org

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
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