SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1156

“Our Father”

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” – Luke 11:1

Jesus’ reply to the disciples’ request was ‘Pray then like this…’ Note that He did not say, ‘Recite these words…’ For many of us the Lord’s Prayer has been, and continues to be mindlessly recited words.

This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; – Matthew 15:8

Let us pray as Jesus taught us:

Our Father – You are ABBA, Father, and my Daddy. You created me and love me more than anyone on this earth could ever do. You are always there for me. You protect me, provide for me and died for me so that I might have eternal life. Thank you, Father for your loving embrace. Thank you for always being there to comfort and care for me.

He calls us His children and He calls us by name. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you… How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! – Isaiah 43:1–  Jeremiah 1:5– Psalm 139:17

Who are in Heaven – When I look up into the vastness of the night sky I marvel at Your creation. Yet what I see is but a speck of what Heaven is like with You. Thank You, Father for saving me. My soul looks forward to eternity in Heaven with You.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, – Philippians 3:20

Hallowed be Your Name – I worship You, Father. I repent of all the times I have used your name in a flippant or cursing manner. I revere Your name, Jesus and worship You.

There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. – Jeremiah 10:6– Proverbs 18:10

Your kingdom Come – Lord create Your kingdom within my heart. I seek Your abiding presence continually. I acknowledge Your sovereignty and submit to your perfect will.

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. – Psalm 103:19

Your will be done – I trust in you and your plan and will for my life. Holy Spirit, I pray for discernment to know the will of my Father and for the strength of heart and purpose to truly say as Jesus did, ‘not my will, but Yours be done’(Luke 22:42).

Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, – Hebrews 10:7

On earth as it is in Heaven – Lord, You are sovereign over all. Nothing is impossible for You. Your perfect will prevails and I trust and place my hope in You.

It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. – Jeremiah 10:12

Give us this day our daily bread – Lord I repent of my striving for the material things of this world. I repent of my worry and fear and anxiousness during difficult times. I place all my trust and hope in You and Your love and care for me as my Father in heaven. Thank You, Lord for healing me in body, mind, and spirit and for providing all my daily needs.

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? – Matthew 6:25

And forgive us our sins – Thank you, Father for dying in my place in the Person of Jesus. Thank You for forgiving my sins and for the free gift of eternal life through Jesus.

…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10:9

As we forgive those who sin against us – May I not disgrace Your grace, Lord. May Your love and forgiveness flow freely through me to those who sin against me.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, – Matthew 6:14

And lead us not into temptation – I repent, Lord of my own evil desires that bring temptation. I pray that You will be a shield about me, protecting my mind and heart from the attacks of the enemy of my soul. Thank You, Father for always providing a way of escape. Strengthen me with power by Your Holy Spirit to overcome the weakness of my flesh.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

But deliver us from evil – Father, our world continues to degenerate as it turns from You and rejects You and Your Son, Jesus. Evil has established its strongholds in the fabric of our society and its laws. I pray that I would not become fearful in spirit. I pray for the courage and confidence that comes from Your abiding presence in my life. Deliver me, protect me and carry me through these evil times to Your praise and glory.

I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless. – Jeremiah 15:21

Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. – Proverbs 3:25-26

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. – 2 Timothy 4:18