Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name
1. We need to get a revelation of who God is, not from others, not from people, but from the Bible. Jesus said if his disciples saw Him, they saw the Father...they are one! Jesus went around healing the sick, reaching out to the outcasts of society, those that the religious hypocrits rejected and looked down on. He took the woman caught in adultery and extended mercy and grace, not judgement and condemnation. We need to get our eyes on God...the God of all the earth, the God that created heaven and earth, the God that rides the winds and hung the stars. Read psalms....then mediatate on who God is!! We acknowledge Him, His power, His might, His majesty...His grace, His mercy, His extravagent love and we praise Him
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven...
This is us recognizing what heaven is all about and then bringing it to earth. Jesus said, "If I by the finger of God cast out demons, no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you!" Jesus' sole purpose was to bring light to the darkness, healing to the broken, freedom to the captive....bringing the culture and atmosphere of heaven to earth...and now He wants to do it through us! WE are His body, His hands, His feet, His mouth to speak words of life, words of blessing not cursing, building up, not tearing down. We are to pray that HIS kingdom would be manifest to this broken world. I believe this part of the prayer is to bring us into agreement with His intentions and purposes.
Give us this day our daily bread - praying for our needs
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us - this is an attitude of humility...first admitting our own shortcomings, and then in extending the same grace and mercy to others.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil - This is an attitude of dependance and humilty as well. We realize that in and of ourselves, we can do nothing....but in Him, well that's a whole other story. We need to not be cocky and self-sufficient, thinking that "we wouldn't do that!!". The truth is that given the right set of circumstances we are all capable of just about anything!! So we need to walk knowing that except for His grace working in us, we might all be axe murderers!! It's also a prayer for protection.
For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, AMEN!
Again, finishing with praise and worship!! I really think praying is more about changing us, than it is about influencing circumstances. I'm not saying it doesn't influence, I believe it does. Philippians 4:6,7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds (I need that!) in Christ Jesus.
So, I believe that yes, prayer does change things...I believe that when we pray in agreement with God's heart, His purposes, His plans, His will....we are taking our God given authority and affecting the situations and circumstances around us. I don't understand it all, I don't know why sometimes prayers get answered as I think they should, and other times they don't, but I do believe that prayer matters!!
However, I believe primarily, prayer is about intimacy...developing that intimate, personal relationship that our Creator and Sustainer wants to have with each one of us....He is Abba...Daddy, and longs to reveal Himself to us in even greater measure... As we begin to know Him as He truly is, not as man and religion have portrayed Him, we are changed!!! We begin to have His heart beating in us....as He transforms our stony hearts into hearts of "flesh". As we see Him as He really is, and we see ourselves as HE sees us, love ourselves, accept ourselves, because HE loves us, HE accepts us...we are then free to become all that we were meant to be.
Anyway, that's a rather long answer to a short question...and I highly doubt I've even scratched the surface. James 5:16 says, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
God isn't looking for mere recitations...He wants to hear your heart....He wants you to hear His heart....prayer is communing with God. He will whisper love songs to you [____]...He likes to laugh...He'll dry your tear....He cheers you on and tells you what an awesome job you're doing, even when you wish you had done better. Prayer is getting to know Him....prayer is taking what you learn in His word and declaring it in the heavenly realms...speaking out truth and life. Prayer has many different functions and purposes, but it is first and foremost about relationship and everything else flows from that!
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