Magical Incantation

“The Lord's Prayer is an excellent model, but it was never intended to be a magical incantation to get God's attention. Jesus gave this prayer as a pattern to suggest the variety of elements that should be included when we pray.” (Bill Hybels)

Jesus prayed earnestly, purposefully, and with certainty. He knew that God answers prayer. "The Lord’s prayer" was given during Christ’s Sermon on the Mount to provide an example for how we should approach the throne of grace. Prayer is the prelude to peace, the prologue to power, the preface to purpose, and the pathway to perfection. It is given in Luke 11:2-4 (ERV) [i] as an outline for a method of prayer that pleases the Heavenly Father:

1.   Give adoration (love) to your Heavenly Father, name.

“Father, we pray that your name will always be kept holy.”

“The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.” (Ann Voskamp)

2.   Be willing to do as your Heavenly Father requests (yes).

“We pray that your kingdom will come.”

“Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.” (Jonathan Edwards)

3.   Be willing to ask your Heavenly Father for what you need (please).[ii]

“Give us the food we need for each day.”

“God promises to meet our needs, not our greed’s.”  (Steve Lawson)

4.   Tell your Heavenly Father you’re sorry (when applicable).

“Forgive our sins just as we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us.”[iii]

“There is no sin that God cannot pardon. All we need to do is ask for forgiveness.” (Pope Francis)

5.   Ask your Heavenly Father for help (always).

“And don’t let us be tempted.”

“God, help me let go of my need to be afraid. I welcome peace, trust, acceptance, and safety into my life. I will make a point of listening to my healthy, rational fears, and will relinquish all the others.” (Melody Beattie) [iv]

·        “The Lord's Prayer reminds us that God longs for His people to communicate with Him, not just in church on Sunday, but wherever we are and whatever our need.” (David Jeremiah)

·        “The Lord’s Prayer is 66 words. The Gettysburg Address is 286 words. There are 1,322 words in the Declaration of Independence, but government regulations on the sale of cabbage total 26,911 words.” (David McIntoshin)

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[i] The Lord’s Prayer is also found in Matthew 6:9-13.

 

[ii] We should speak to our Heavenly Father in prayer with confidence, continually, in contentment, in concern for and in concert with others.

“So own up to your sins to one another and pray for one another. In the end, you may be healed. Your prayers are powerful when they are rooted in a righteous life.” (James 5:16, VOICE)

 [iii] "Pray" by Cece Winans

I know that you think you can't pray after that mistake
but I know it's the only way you can make it better
And I know situations get too much for you to take
and you feel like you're gone break and it makes you say

I can't take it
When will things get better?
I'm so frustrated, but it's gonna be okay cause
you've got someone in your corner
Who's gonna be there for you
Just fall on your knees, say a prayer and receive

When the world feels like it's on your shoulders (I pray, you pray, we pray)
When your life seems like its upside down (I pray, you pray, we pray)
When your lonely nights are getting colder (I pray, you pray, we pray)
I pray, you pray no matter how dark the day

I know you think you've gone too far and you waited too late
But I know that He loves you and there's no love greater so
And I know that it's hurting and you want your pain to end
And you feel like you can't win and it makes you say

[iv] Inspired by the sermon “Face Time: Talking with God” (installment three, final) Sunday, September 3,  2017 Pastor Dave Jansen, CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH

 

Additional source used: “How to Use the Lord's Prayer as a Model” by Paul Fritz