I recently listened to an in depth study from a very godly man who was teaching on praying in the spirit of God. He was talking about the Lords prayer and when he spoke something resonated with me, loudly.
We know the model in which he taught us to pray:
Matthew 6: 9 “Pray, then, in this way:
Matthew 6: 9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
Our Father. Ours.
Growing up, I spent a lot of time alone, locked inside my head. Pouring over books and thoughts and concepts, because in my young life, I felt like there wasn't anyone I could really talk to. I felt a great sense of isolation after I saw my dad die. That isolation and sadness carried on with me for a great many years.
Growing up, I had a revolving door of people coming in and out of my life, as my various family members sailed from one trauma to another.
Growing up, I had a really strong sense of self reliance. In my head, it was me vs the world that wanted to destroy me. As I grew, God and I found each other.... or I found Him, I don't think he ever really let me out of His sight. Then, in my mind, it was just me, and God. God and I walking around among other believers. God and I walking around among the world. There were these walls that I had built up in my heart and mind to keep from trusting people, to keep from getting hurt by people.
This one man Army mindset was even in my prayer life. When there was a need, or I felt lead to pray...
It was always like I was asking my God for things for other people. It was still me, and my God, even if their God was also my God.
I was still holding walls. My Father, was Their Father.... but he wasn't Our father.
and it has occurred to me, the divisional aspect of such a simple thing.... it isn't a good thing.
Our Father...
Even in praying for others... for individual needs, I know that they are not the only ones in the body of the Messiah that are hurting or in need of the same thing.
So and so is feeling alone, and he's hurting and feels like God isn't answering his prayers, or if he is, he can't hear the answers... and so I'd pray, God please help so and so. Meet the needs specifically of so and so.
I know that this is a good thing, I know that this is a needed thing......
...but the bigger picture here...
The Our Father picture....
God, I pray for all your people who are fighting this. God I pray that you meet the needs of all who are part of your body that are struggling in this area...
Give US this day, OUR daily bread, forgive US OUR debts as WE forgive OUR debtors....
Taking a step back.... I can see a little clearer.
If I, and probably others... if We can adapt the mindset that when one falls, we all fall, when we stand, we stand as one. Perhaps, when we think as the collective "One body" and we move as "one body"... we will repent as "one body". We can walk righteously as "One body"
The royal "we"
-
I'm seeing this too.
Our Father. Ours.
Growing up, I spent a lot of time alone, locked inside my head. Pouring over books and thoughts and concepts, because in my young life, I felt like there wasn't anyone I could really talk to. I felt a great sense of isolation after I saw my dad die. That isolation and sadness carried on with me for a great many years.
Growing up, I had a revolving door of people coming in and out of my life, as my various family members sailed from one trauma to another.
Growing up, I had a really strong sense of self reliance. In my head, it was me vs the world that wanted to destroy me. As I grew, God and I found each other.... or I found Him, I don't think he ever really let me out of His sight. Then, in my mind, it was just me, and God. God and I walking around among other believers. God and I walking around among the world. There were these walls that I had built up in my heart and mind to keep from trusting people, to keep from getting hurt by people.
This one man Army mindset was even in my prayer life. When there was a need, or I felt lead to pray...
It was always like I was asking my God for things for other people. It was still me, and my God, even if their God was also my God.
I was still holding walls. My Father, was Their Father.... but he wasn't Our father.
and it has occurred to me, the divisional aspect of such a simple thing.... it isn't a good thing.
Our Father...
Even in praying for others... for individual needs, I know that they are not the only ones in the body of the Messiah that are hurting or in need of the same thing.
So and so is feeling alone, and he's hurting and feels like God isn't answering his prayers, or if he is, he can't hear the answers... and so I'd pray, God please help so and so. Meet the needs specifically of so and so.
I know that this is a good thing, I know that this is a needed thing......
...but the bigger picture here...
The Our Father picture....
God, I pray for all your people who are fighting this. God I pray that you meet the needs of all who are part of your body that are struggling in this area...
Give US this day, OUR daily bread, forgive US OUR debts as WE forgive OUR debtors....
Taking a step back.... I can see a little clearer.
If I, and probably others... if We can adapt the mindset that when one falls, we all fall, when we stand, we stand as one. Perhaps, when we think as the collective "One body" and we move as "one body"... we will repent as "one body". We can walk righteously as "One body"
The royal "we"
-
I'm seeing this too.
A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
God makes a home for the lonely;
He leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land. Psalm 68:5-6
Is God in His holy habitation.
God makes a home for the lonely;
He leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land. Psalm 68:5-6
