OUR FATHER – HALLOWED BE THY NAME
Our lives are so dependent upon that umbilical cord we call “prayer” … that which is our communication system with God. We say, “I’ll pray for you” or “I pray to God such and such doesn’t happen” … or when others pray, we often let our minds wander … Prayer has become so familiar … and familiarity is good but it often hangs a veil over the face of the beautiful … and we take it for granted. We do it in marriages---we do it with our children---we do it with friendship---the little things that are lifelines that keep our relationship alive no longer excite us … we fail to appreciate them. Like the sunset – or the butterfly – or the song of the mockingbird – and the stars in the sky – and the orderliness of God’s creation … and so also we do it with “prayer” … especially the Lord’s Prayer-
Yes, when you see or do something for a while, familiarity hangs a veil over it and we almost don’t see its beauty any more.
Simple it is – the Lord’s Prayer – we pray it every Sunday – 64 words – we find it in only two places in the Bible – Matthew, chapter 6 and Luke, chapter 11. 49 of its words are one syllable words. But we give it a more prominent place and sacredness than the word “love” – which appears 100s of times -- it is simple, profound and doctrinal …
Of this prayer, the poets said:
You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say “I”.
You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say “my”.
You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and not pray for another.
For when you ask for daily bread you must include your brother, for others are included in each and every phrase.
From the beginning to the end of it, it does not once say “me”.
This was first, Jesus’ prayer … He uttered it when someone asked Him how to pray … or when one of His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray …
Now, Jesus knew what real prayer was for He talked to God often. It seems shameful to me that we so often say nice prayers … I’ve hear people say, “Wasn’t that a nice prayer?” Prayers are nice but more importantly they are the most powerful tool we have. And this prayer ought never be repeated or said … it must be prayed.
When you see Jesus in the marketplace, He is calm and well-possessed. If you see Him on a mountain top, He is in command of the situation. If you see Him in a boat on the angry sea, He is giving assurance to the others. If YOU WATCH HIM HANGING ON A CROSS YOU HEAR HIM SAY WITH A KIND OF TRANQUILITY, “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” For all of those moments when He was beside Himself and upset or when in deep need or times of joy … He was at prayer.
Prayer is not always a peaceful state of being … it can be … and should be if faith and believing are present. Jesus taught, I think, that if you struggle in prayer you will be enabled to meet life’s struggles. It needs to be a bare-root experience. Total honesty and sincerity. Luke records that when Jesus was at the Mount of Olives before His crucifixion, Jesus “kneeled down and prayed, saying, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as if it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:41-44) (Everything for them – and us – was hanging in the balance).
When was the last time you or I prayed like that? For Jesus sometimes prayer was a quiet and peaceful time … at other times it was deep and soul-searching!
With much research, Bible study and prayer … here are some definite/practical/necessary suggestions for praying.
- Pray secretly. Jesus said, (Matt 6:6ff) “enter into thy closet and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” He admonishes us to be careful of public prayers … and babbling on and on … so often they are for show – not much sweat – except worrying whether the people who hear it will like the words you said.
- Pray deliberately. Don’t pray for a good world. Don’t generalize … in that we are shallow, seeking only to get off the hook. You have to be specific to get things done. Beating around the bush is always detrimental. Remember Jesus said, “not my will, but thine, be done.” And He said, “Why (in anguish) hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46) And then in peace, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
I heard someone say, if you want to be consciously specific, roll up your sleeves, be aware that you’re serious. Be specific, say “Today I’m going to pray about the obsession which haunts me, about the guilt which infects me, about the specific person whose very bodily presence I can’t stand (tolerate is a better word), about the specific dream which chases me by day and haunts me by night … if you don’t get specific (especially in that closet) your prayer has no power. If it was a casual visit with God – they’re good for you, too.
- And then pray imaginatively. Live your dreams, all of your experiences while you pray. Let your imagination carry you to the very person or situation about which you are concerned.
Pray sacramentally!! You can’t always be good and have a vital prayer life. For you really take your badness to God in order to do your goodness before man. If you have a kind of God toward whom you only feel comfortable when you are showing your best side, then God can never forgive your sin and cleanse you from your iniquity and understand your evil and wash you clean. For you never get to the bottom line. -LJS
