I was asked this week about prayer, something I very much enjoy doing, but often find I am crunched for time, get my Bible study in, and pray a quick prayer as I get up to deal with the kids’ needs. I realized this week that just won’t do. I will pray before the kids rise, spend 5 minutes after my prayer listening for God, and waiting on His will.
The elements of prayer and how to pray can be found in the Lord’s Prayer. I am sure I have written about this before, but somehow it did not end up in our blog, so I will jot down my notes once more to share with you.
Step one – Address God in the holy place
Jesus started with: “Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name…”
Father God, Creator of all that is pure, true, and righteous, I praise and adore Your holy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven
God, all that You have created – the entirety of the angels, humans, and wildlife – let it come to full fruition, and Your will, what You would have us do, what You would intend for our realm, let it be realized in the pure, true, miraculous, beautiful way.
Your will, beautifully playing out in Heaven, can now fully and most completely play out here on earth. In that intention, God, let evil end, let darkness subside, and let us live in the constant light of Your presence.
Give us this day our daily bread
God, we thank You for always giving us the sustenance needed to live another day. And also for fulfilling what makes our life, my life, healthy, vibrant, brilliant, and wondrous. Thank You for giving me the words of wisdom to uplift and inspire, the nurturing touch of the practitioners and friends who see me as Yours, God. Thank You for giving me enough.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
God, I want to cover this base because I am seemingly unaware when I am offending You or not doing what You would have me do, and my sole intention is to live my life in praise and service of You and Your Holy Name – the Name above all names. You who are so magnificent, I can hardly imagine Your light and Your glory, purifying me to be more and more like You, living into the image You created me in, to reflect Your glory.
And God, please let me immediately let go of those infractions of others who have not lived up to what they had indicated they could do or be for me. Let me forgive the moment of an offense, so that I may remain pure and worthy in Your sight. Forgive me for when I hold onto my frustration of others, and help me see Your will working even through the stuck places, God, for I know You intend all good for me.
Lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil
God, I know evil masquerades as light and is often attempting to delude me, but I ask You to keep my eyes open to what is wrong, what dishonors You, and what separates me from Your love. Keep me on the right path, Dear Lord, my Sweet Lord. Keep me pure, keep me holy.
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever
God, You are the Creator of all – the light that has no darkness, the all of all, and the great I AM. I, as one of Yours, living in Your Kingdom, honor and revel in Your power and Your glory. With You all things are possible. With You there is a glory and divinity I am awestruck and stilled in…
Forever and ever
Without end I stand with You, receiving Your light, the life You created for me in service to all. There is no growing tired or weary, there is only Your glory, Your greatness, Your power. I come back to You, I stand firm in You, I receive Your great love for me as I attempt to reflect that incredible love back to You, God… I breathe You in, feel Your love, and it is enough, more than enough, it is everything.
So be it and amen.
