(Part Three)
Stand or sit with your palms facing upward as though you are prepared to receive the blessing that God has for you today. Imagine that God is just above, raining down the necessities of life for you and be glad that you are in God’s presence now.
Pray “The Lord’s Prayer” being intentional in addressing each word and phrase to God, aware that God is paying attention to you as you are paying attention to God.
We continue with our prayerful consideration of “The Lord’s Prayer”
Our understanding of God clearly shapes the way that we approach God in prayer. If we thing of God as a stingy tyrannical miser, we will pray accordingly but if God is indeed like a loving Father, our prayers will be shaped by that faith.
“The Lord’s Prayer” teaches us how to pray based on a very clear perception of God’s character. Jesus teaches us to ask for some things and not for others based on that which God wants to give. In teaching us to ask for some things and not for others, Jesus opens our minds and hearts to receive that which God wants to give and to hear that which God wishes to say to us through our prayers.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
In saying the word “give” we are affirming that God is essentially “a giver.” When we learn that a person or (a god?) is a miser or a monster, we know not to ask. But Jesus teaches us that God, at the very core of God’s character, is a generous giver.
Where have you experienced the generosity of God?”
The necessities of life?
Material blessings?
Relationships?
Pardon for sin?
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To say the word “give” is to ask…
And to ask is to confess a condition of dependency…
And to be dependent is to be humble … or humbled!
To ask is to be aware that the potential giver has the right to refuse. God is not required to give anything to anybody at any time!
How or when have you experienced the condition of humility?
Or humiliation?
Have you ever been reduced to praying, “Please God, I beg of you”?
Aware that God is with you and paying attention to you, praise God for God’s never ending generosity.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
To who does the word “us” apply?
As you pray for daily bread, who is included?
Who would you intentionally leave out of the prayer for the daily necessities of life?
Big question: In the word “us” is there a cry or plea for justice i.e. that all of God’s children will be fed? How can we pray “us” and be content with the millions of God’s children who live lives of nutritional deprivation – hunger?
In saying “us” Jesus clearly includes “me.”
Pray now for the “bread” that you need for daily life.
Pray for others in their quest for “daily bread.”
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
We are being led to focus our attention on the “here and now”, our immediate concerns. Life with God is always lived in the present moment so we are taught first to lift the needs of today to God.
If God is always found in the present, how often, do you suppose, we have missed God by living in the past or in the future?
Jesus is probably referring to the story of the ancient journey through the wilderness. To the wandering children of Israel God provided a single day’s supply of manna, enough bread for each day. Each day’s necessity was provided on the day that it was needed – neither before nor after. That became the sign of a continuing dependency on God and God’s continuing faithfulness to us.
How comfortable are you in praying “this day”?
Is it possible that one of the needs of “this day” is to make prudent preparations for tomorrow and to include that in our prayers?
Spend a few moments being aware that you are in God’s presence and to pray for the things you need today.
Lift others to God and pray that their needs will be met today.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
Does bread mean only bread or is it a symbol of all of our basic needs?
For what other basic needs could bread symbolize?
Clothing?
Shelter?
Education?
Sanitation?
Health Care?
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This is deeply personal. I am taught to pray that God will provide my needs.
At the same time, to pray only about my needs is to deny the spirit of the prayer…
Which is to deny the spirit of Jesus…
Which is to deny the character and the will of God!
Be aware that God is here and that is fully aware of you. Offer to God whatever comes to mind.