"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV).
Once Jesus was approached by his disciples who asked him to teach them how to pray. We certainly do not know what prompted them but they must have been fascinated by the Lord's Prayer life. The answer he gave is quite revealing.
The Lord teaches them to pray in the name of the Father; to ask His will to be done; and for his kingdom to come; Mathew 6:9-10. Important here is to observe that it is his will and not ours! That means that prayer is not a directive to the Almighty God; rather a call for believers to align their wishes in line with God's desires. Our call then is how do we make sure we walk in the Lord's will that our prayer requests are well aligned with God's? ...
One thing we also see is that the Lord is interested in our personal welfare. We are to plea: "Give us today our daily bread" (vv 11) which clearly shows the Lord desires for our bodily comfort. There are means of course that the Lord has provided such as the need to work to have our daily bread. The Apostle Paul has written "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
Our prayers are not supposed to be pre occupied with only self-centered needs. "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (vv 12) is an admonition to let go of those matters pressing us, including that which we rightly believe is ours. Perhaps here it is worth remembering that after all, we too, have been forgiven, and so we should of others. It is all about the Lord's sovereignty.
Strangely but so true the Lord's Prayer observes that all of our lives are at the center of a spiritual battle, and hence we should pray, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (vv 13). The scriptures warn us always to be on guard. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:18). Hence the need to be constantly on the watch while seeking the Lord's deliverance.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of creation, of heaven and earth, today I pray in the name of your beloved son Jesus, that your will be done in my life as is your perfect desire that I may prosper!
