Matthew 6:9……”Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. V10 Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Dear God,
I am grateful to You for Your continuing unbounding love, and for every blessing that You bestow on me. Today fill me with Your Spirit, so that I can rise above this tiredness and heaviness of body and mind.
Teach me to truly reverence and honour You in my mind and life, so that reverence and honour to You will naturally be part of my prayers and worship, throughout each day. As I read and pray in obedience to Your will combined with wanting to be part of Your kingdom, please bring the principles of Your kingdom into my heart; fostering my hope for Your kingdom to soon be established upon this earth, so Your order of love and purity will be universal. After all, in the light of this prospect, why would I (we) want to keep this order of dimness, diluted happiness, variable love that even at the best is a shadow of the heavenly and often turns on and off, with large areas for too many, of hate, persistent unhappiness and hopelessness?
The scriptures reveal that prayer is truly the only answer, to our personal and corporate sin, disobedience and distress. No need is too small to prayer about. No one who is contrite has barred themselves from accessing the heart of Jesus. When we (anyone) truly repent and pray for forgiveness, it is granted. No matter if it is one sin or a lifetime of sin and disobedience. Matthew 6: 8 “……….For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
Jesus clearly taught not only how we should pray, but the type of prayers and attitudes that are not acceptable and cause our prayers to be unanswered. V5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, that they have their reward.” There it is again, self-focus, that has caused so much problem for individuals and in the world since the very beginning. It is also evident, that we have a choice, we can go for public notice and accolades to the exclusion of serving and honouring God, and they will be our only reward, for they do not bring the heavenly reward.
Jesus taught that when we seek You with an undivided heart, with no other motive V6 “But you, when you pray, go into your room, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” There is a tendency for us to think that the more words we use or to say the same words repeatedly will find Your ear better and bring a more favour, but Jesus has taught us this is not so, V7 “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. V8 “Therefore do not be like them…………..”
Father, as I have reread these texts, I can see my areas of need, and I thank You for this, please fill me with Your Holy Spirit again today, and lead me not only in my attitudes, but in my prayers and life lived because of You. I am grateful for this new day of opportunity, and ask that I can be Your true servant, that brings glory to Your name. I give You my praise and deep gratitude.
Amen