Understanding the Lord's Prayer

I was opportune to minister at a youth vigil of recent. And while the service is going on, the Lord ask me to pay attention to how they recite the Lord’s Prayer. Truly it was discouraging because they were reciting it like poem. But that was not all. Before I step up to alter to give my sermon, they repeated the Lord’s Prayer again like reciting poem. These was a confirmation to the topic I was to treat that night. Understanding the Lord’s Prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer that we should be careful with when saying it or using as a guide to prayer. These is a prayer from Heaven to man. This prayer is not meant for unbelievers but rather for those who have confess Christ Jesus as their personnel Lord and Saviour. The content of the Prayer can testify of that. This prayer does not give room for repentant, it is repentant first then the Lord’s Prayer.

You say I am a Christian, but that is not all there is more. Only the broken in the Lord can access the Throne of grace, mercy and power with the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer need to be understood for it to be effectual.

Some will say ‘so those little children reciting the Lord’s Prayer are not worthy’. I am not saying that, and God himself is the Judge of that alone. But as many that are matured most especially those who profess Christianity, I say to you “do you really understand the Lord’s Prayer?

His disciple said to him Teach us how to Pray.

Our Father, how art in Heaven hallow be thy name.

When we utter such statement with our mouth, do we really know what we are saying?  God is the God of all the earth but a Father to do who live according to his will. You call him Father but does he acknowledge you as a son. Do you have a personal relationship with the one you say is your Father in Heaven? Do you fear His name in all thy dealings?. We all know the name of our President, does that means the president knows us?  John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven? When we say thy kingdom come, are we really ready for His return. I have ask some ladies {all choristers} at different places that do you want Jesus to come now. Believe me they all said almost the same thing. I want to get married, have my house, my companies, my children and the likes.. This ones are not ready for His kingdom yet they pray…… let your kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven. Let us ask ourselves, are we really doing the will of God on earth? Because only the fellow doing the will of God on earth is equipped to declare the will of Heaven on earth. Do we even know the will of God for our lives? Misplace priority is one of the foundation of unanswered prayers. Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us.

All that a man has, the Lord is not without the knowledge of it. Psalms 73 whether acquired by false or in truth. It is a must that we request for our daily bread. The bread is in two fold. The physical bread; which is food and the spiritual bread which is the word of God. Man can go a day without the former, but the latter we can cannot do without. It is a means where by the Father commune with us. How often do we ask for this bread?

If we don’t forgive any who offend us, our prayer is meaningless. Because we are telling God that He should forgive us since we have obeyed is commandment to forgive all that wronged us. We can’t come to God with anger, grudges, hatred in our heart and position ourselves to say the Lord’s Prayer, He will not hear us.

And lead us not into temptation {this is a topic of its own and to be discussed soon.

In conclusion, understanding the Lord’s Prayer does not discourage anyone from praying but rather help us to know our right standing with the Father. It in fact help us to consider our ways. 1Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

I Pray the good Lord will give us more understanding in Jesus Name. Amen