The Power of Prayer.7

"Pray in this manner:

Our Father in heaven, may all the earth recognize that you are the one and holy God.

May your kingdom dwell among us.

May your purpose be accomplished on earth, as it is in heaven.

Provide us with daily bread to sustain us, and forgive our falling short.

Help us to forgive those who have wronged us.

Keep us from wandering into faithlessness, and deliver us from the evil one.

For to you belongs all power and glory, eternally. Let it be so.”

--Jesus

A little girl crosses in front of my school bus to board, her eyes furtively looking back at the man sending her off. He's blowing kisses. She's not sure how to respond; he's not sure how to win her heart. Broken promises make futile a father's desire to draw his child close.

Those who have wronged us. How little do we grasp the impact on a human being's ability to trust when wronged. Those little eyes fresh out of the womb looking up into the eyes of the love that concieved them. A father's eyes. What damage to faith when they are wronged. How many of the world's children struggle to trust in their Maker, their eternal Father because of the wrong done them by dad or mom: neglect, carelessness, injustice, abuse, indifference, brokenness?

"Teach us to pray" the disciples asked the Master. The One through whom the world exists, in whom resides the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Who rejoices in things felt, known, imagined that cannot be put into human words, cannot yet be understood by human hearts. The truths that lay behind the words those he trusts in the Spirit of His Father to teach the childlike hearts. He will heal the broken until they can trust again.

"Father" 

Restore honor to that name; heal our brokenness to look into the eyes of love again.

"May all the world recognize that you are the One and Holy God!" 

Destroy the campaign to impugn your glory. Shine the light of your devotion and power on all the inhabitants of the earth!

"May your kingdom dwell among us." 

May we be the kind of people you would rejoice to be King over! People who love righteousness and truth; among whom there would be not one desire we would be ashamed of before You and your universe!

"May your purpose be accomplished on earth, as it is in heaven." 

May there be no ruling power on the earth but your Perfect Will. Make us one with you because we trust in You!

"Provide us with daily bread to sustain us, and forgive our falling short." 

May we know the joy of wanting what we have knowing it all comes from your abundant supply and perfect devotion to every creature. May we be like you to help, heal and save.

"Help us to forgive those who have wronged us." 

May we let forgiveness have its work uniting hearts and compelling Oneness; may we love where we cannot yet forgive; may that love reach the coldest heart, the deepest wound, the worst evil. May we be like you to spend ourselves to make lovely those who have fallen into the "gulf of separation" that accompanies all sin. May we remember the "debt of love" we owe to every friend, neighbor and enemy; may we be willing to pay up to the very last penny of what we owe!

"Keep us from wandering into faithlessness, and deliver us from the evil one." 

May we remember in our striving against sin--the evil in us and others--we have not "resisted to the point of shedding blood" so that we do not lose heart and give up. May we continue to stand strong with the company of those who are committed to sending evil from the earth!

"For to you belongs all power and glory, eternally. Let it be so.” 

Let us each day "taste" a little more of the power & glory ready to revealed to all who look for your returning!

Amen!