SPRING 2020 - DAY 7: YOU’RE THE ONE IN CHARGE!

“…For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” - Matthew 6:13 (NKJV)

What a humbling end to such a powerful prayer. The ending of the Lord’s Prayer very directly reminds us that the power rests in the hands of the Lord. “Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. You, Father, are our Source, our Comfort, our Provider, our King. In Your hands, You hold eternity and our future.” 

This whole thing is God’s story, not ours. We’re not the stars, we are the supporting roles. He is at the center, and our job is to point to Him with everything we do. This adds incredible meaning to our lives—we are no longer just living it for ourselves—and it also takes the pressure off of us. We are responsible for what we do and for being faithful with the things He has given us; but He is responsible for the results, even if they don’t look like we think they should. 

This ending in many ways points to Psalm 145 which says, “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works.” As Jesus ends this prayer with His disciples, He refocuses our hearts on adoring and glorifying the Father. 

This ending also very clearly declares that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). This lends itself toward one of the most comforting truths of scripture: even when we do not understand what God is doing, He still has a purpose and a plan. Even when everything seems to be going wrong and everything seems to be outside of God’s perfect will, He is still in it, working His good. Romans 8:28 declares, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” This means that all failures, all suffering, all wounds, and even all sinfulness will be used by God to our benefit and His purpose, IF we will simply place these things in His hands and acknowledge, “God, you’re in charge!” 

“Our Father 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 forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Father, I recognize that You are the star—You are at the center. You are marvelous, You are glorious, You are powerful. I want everything I do to reflect Your holy name and support Your work on the earth. I submit myself to You and Your plan. I thank You that You are in control and not me. Take every piece of my life—the beautiful and the messy—and work Your perfect good in it all. Take me from where I am to where You desire me to be. Amen.”

SPRING 2020 - DAY 6: ONLY YOU CAN DELIVER ME FROM TEMPTATION

“…And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one…” - Matthew 6:13 (NKJV)

The New Living Translation says, “And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Temptation comes because we live in a fallen world and we have to fight our sinful natures. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This does not mean the old will magically disappear. In fact, we live in a world with an enemy who wants nothing more than to ensure our old sinful nature remains in control. When it comes to temptation, we almost always think of it as a desire for obviously sinful things. But, anything can become sinful when we are tempted to put it above God’s place in our lives. 

The Bible makes it clear that we are in a spiritual fight with a spiritual enemy. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul writes that our struggle is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms—the here and now. This can seem incredibly intimidating if we look at it without the knowledge that we have direct access to the power of God through Jesus. James 4:7 says that we must submit ourselves to God, resist the devil, and then he will flee. The act of resisting temptation is accomplished through surrender. We submit to Him and allow Him to work in our hearts, and then we find the power to resist the devil. 

God equips us with “spiritual armor” to combat the attacks of the enemy. Paul continues in Ephesians 6 with a list of spiritual armor with which we can defend ourselves (Ephesians 6:13-17). This action should be proactive (before the fight), not reactive (after the bullets are flying). But either way, we must come to the conclusion that God is the only one who can deliver us from temptation.

It’s not just about the armor. God also sent Jesus to deal directly and decisively with our sins. He’s given us the Holy Spirit who warns us and empowers us. He’s spoken His Word in the Scriptures. He’s offered us the authority of His Name, and the community of His people for protection. 

As we continue to submit ourselves to God’s way, we will find ourselves increasingly filled with power to resist the enemy. When temptations come, and we respond by leaning into the Lord, the muscles of our faith grow. As the muscles of our faith continue to grow, we become further equipped to handle more trials and testing in the future. But remember, even that faith comes from God.

“Our Father 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 forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. I choose to submit myself to You today, Lord. By faith, I put on my spiritual armor: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, and the shoes of peace. I take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Today with Your strength, I choose to resist the enemy and flee temptation. Amen.”

SPRING 2020 - DAY 5: FORGIVE ME SO I CAN FORGIVE FREELY

“…And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…” - Matthew 6:12 (NKJV)

Forgiveness. This one word can simultaneously invoke feelings of joy and gratitude and feelings of pain and intimidation. When we think of it in terms of God forgiving us, we are overwhelmed with gratitude that He has forgiven our multitude of sins. When we think about it in terms of us forgiving others…the conversation gets a little weightier. 

The Greek word for forgive is aphiemi which literally means to “let go or leave behind.” When we are forgiven, God let’s go of our debt against Him because of the blood of Jesus that was shed to cover those sins. It’s immediate and it’s guaranteed. When we repent and ask for forgiveness, God gives it every time. When we forgive others, we are letting go of the debt of the wrong they committed toward us. This does not make exceptions for wrong acts done by us or by someone else against us. When God forgives us, He releases us of our debts. When we choose to forgive others, we are not saying that what they did was right and acceptable; rather, we are letting go of our own wants and releasing that person into the Lord’s hands. 

When we hold onto unforgiveness and refuse to release it to the Lord, we are not allowing Him the opportunity to take it and address it. Think of it in terms of a medical emergency. If you get a cut on your arm, you might hold tightly to it in attempts to stop the bleeding and reduce the pain. But when you go to the doctor, he or she cannot begin the process of cleaning and healing the wound until you take your own hand off of it. Removing your hand will not immediately take away the pain, but it will allow the doctor the opportunity to begin the process of healing. 

When we choose to let go and forgive, we are actually choosing to free ourselves from the bondage of that pain. Lewis B. Smedes said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” Forgiveness is a process that we desperately need God’s grace and help to accomplish. When we do forgive, we walk in unmatchable freedom and peace.

“Our Father 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 forgive our debtors. Father, forgive me for (fill in the blank). I thank You that You are faithful to forgive if I repent and turn to You. Would You give me the grace to forgive (fill in the blank)? Begin Your supernatural work of healing in my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to comfort the areas of my heart that are still broken. I release this unforgiveness to You and choose to walk in Your freedom. Amen.”

SPRING 2020 - DAY 4: YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I NEED AND WHEN I NEED IT

“…Give us this day our daily bread…” - Matthew 6:11 (NKJV)

How reassuring that we can approach the Lord’s throne and ask Him to meet our daily needs and rest knowing that He will be faithful to supply them! He teaches us to trust, however, by supplying our daily needs—giving us what we need one day at a time. In the Old Testament, God provided for His people’s need for food by supplying them with daily manna, but He specifically instructed them to only gather enough for that one day. Each night, the Israelites went to sleep with full trust and confidence that they would wake up tomorrow and find God had supplied their needs yet again.

This piece of the Prayer that Jesus teaches does not limit us to asking merely for physical needs. When Jesus speaks to His disciples, the word He uses for daily is the Greek word epiousios, which literally translated means “supersubstantial.” This is the only time in history that this Greek word is recorded as being used. Each day, the Lord is prepared to meet more than just our physical needs but also our supernatural needs. The Greek word for bread is ártos which translated properly means “bread.” It is also figuratively translated as “divine provision—all the sustenance that a yielded believer needs to live in God’s will.” 

These definitions tell us that asking for our “daily bread” is not only limited to food or physical needs. We can ask boldly for the protection, food, and strength we need, and we can ask Him for the wisdom, discernment, and peace we need to walk out His will to which He has called us. He knows exactly what we will face each day, and He will give us exactly what we need to live in His will.

Most of us would likely prefer “monthly bread” or “annual bread,” not “daily bread.” But the two fundamental concepts that Jesus teaches here have to do with 1) Timing and 2) Amounts. God knows “when” and He knows “how much” I need. 

Jesus said that He came so that we would have life and life to the fullest. When we need provision for an area of our lives in which we are weak, we need only claim the promises of Scripture and ask the Holy Spirit to help us in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26). Through the power of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit in us, we can live life to the fullest knowing all of our needs—physical and spiritual—will be met! 

“Our Father 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. Lord, You know my needs that will arise today. I’m asking You to meet those needs through Your divine provision. Go before me and help me to trust that You will meet today’s needs. Give me the strength to match my circumstances, not circumstances to match my strength. Amen.”

SPRING 2020 - DAY 3: HOW CAN I COOPERATE WITH YOUR KINGDOM?

“…Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” - Matthew 6:10 (NKJV)

When we pray for the Lord’s kingdom to come, we are not necessarily begging the Lord for His Second Coming. God’s kingdom is not limited to heaven (when we think of it in terms of eternity). It’s easy to view the earth and heaven as very separate when actually, they overlap. As God’s living temple, our role is to be the carrier of His presence and serve as the intersection between heaven and earth. God’s kingdom is made real on this earth through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us. 

The kingdom of heaven does exist now in both places, but the difference is that the kingdom of heaven is perfected in eternity. It’s not yet perfected here on earth because it involves us—imperfect people. 

Our responsibility as Christ-followers is to cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts to exchange our own desires and perspectives for His. When we pray for His kingdom to come on the earth, we are not asking God to fix all of our problems. We are asking God to change our hearts and equip us with His kingdom-perspective so that we can take it to the world around us. We are saying, “God, what are you doing, and how can we cooperate with you?”

Jesus was the perfect example of bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth. He was constantly collaborating with His heavenly Father to reveal His life and love. The more that we learn about Jesus and the more that we seek to be like Him, the more that we embody the kingdom to the world around us. 

Each time we respond with love instead of hate, we bring God’s kingdom expansion. Each time we give generously, we cooperate with God’s kingdom purpose. Each time we forgive, we collaborate with God’s kingdom rule. 

As we pray for a kingdom-perspective, we are praying for God’s perfect will to be done here on the earth. But how do we know if we’re praying God’s perfect will? That knowledge comes with relationship—spending time with God, reading His Word, and praying that He would change our hearts to match His will. In terms of person-to-person relationships, how would you get to know someone else and what they want? You spend time with them, you listen to them, and you get to know them. It’s the same with the Lord. 

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Would You mold and shape my heart to match Your will and give me Your kingdom-perspective? Father, would You move and accomplish Your perfect will in my life and the lives of those around me? Teach me what Your perfect will is and how I can partner with You to bring Your kingdom to those around me. Amen.”

SPRING 2020 - DAY 2: YOUR NAME IS HOLY AND WORTHY

“…Hallowed be Your name…” - Matthew 6:9 (NKJV)

This phrase may seem a little antiquated, but the language is beautiful. The word “hallowed” means to be greatly revered and honored. The New Living Translation says, “May Your name be kept holy.” This is a simple yet profound declaration of worship toward the Lord. Worship is our way of deeply honoring the Lord and positioning our hearts in a posture of humility toward Him. Every day should be filled with praise that declares the Lord is worthy of honor and reverence for Who He is. 

This piece of The Lord’s Prayer is not merely a declaration of praise toward the Father, it is also instructional for us. Those of us who claim the name “Christian” or “Christ-follower” wear the name of the Lord. We are the physical representation of Him to the world around us. 

The way we speak, the way we treat others, and the way we act—in public and in private—is a representation of the name of the Lord. When we pray, “Lord, may Your name be kept holy,” we are also praying, “Lord, would the way that I speak, the way that I think, and the way that I act bring a holy reflection on Your name. When people look at me, I pray that they do not see me but rather You shining through.” This is the essence of worship.

Worship is the way we are transformed into being the carriers of God’s presence. In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was the carrier of God’s presence. In the New Testament, the manifestation of God’s presence came through Jesus. When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He said that He was sending His Spirit to give us power and make us witnesses (Acts 1:8). Today, we are the carriers of God’s presence, we bear His name, and we are His temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20). That holiness is something we bring with us into our workplaces, our schools, and our families. Representing the Lord’s kingdom is a weighty responsibility; however, we were never called to do it in our own strength. The Holy Spirit empowers us to walk out a holy representation of His name. What an amazing responsibility the Lord has entrusted to us!

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Father, You are worthy of all of my praise, all of my worship, and all of my honor because of who You are. You are just, You are loving, You are faithful, and Your thoughts toward me cannot be counted. Thank You for wanting to be with me constantly and sending Your Holy Spirit to go with me always. And thank You for entrusting me with the responsibility of carrying Your presence and representing Your name. Would You give me the wisdom and grace that I need each moment of each day to be a truthful and authentic representation of You to the world around me? Amen.”

SPRING 2020 - DAY 1: YOU’RE A LOVING AND PRESENT FATHER

“Our Father in heaven…” - Matthew 6:9 (NKJV)

A.W. Tozer said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” What comes to your mind when you think of God? Judge? Creator? Friend? If what comes to your mind lines up with Scripture, then you can know it’s true. But before any other truth about God from Scripture, Jesus said to address God as Father. 

The word “father” carries such significant meaning for every person to walk the earth. Everyone has a father. Some of us have a father who “created us” but then left us behind. Some of us have a father who nurtured, protected, taught, and provided for us. Some of us have a father who struck fear in our hearts. And still others of us have a father who was present but had “bigger” worries and cares on their minds than tending to our needs. 

With all of this information being drilled into our heads since birth about what a father looks like, how then should we view God when Jesus tells us to pray, “Our Father?” The Bible helps us with several depictions of God as our Father: Our heavenly Father lavishes love on us and calls us His own children (1 John 3:1). Our heavenly Father has compassion on us (Psalm 103:13). Our heavenly Father provides for us (Matthew 6:26). Our heavenly Father protects us and says that no one can snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28-30). Our heavenly Father corrects us when we get off course (Proverbs 3:12). 

When our thoughts and feelings about God as our Father don’t line up with Scripture, ask the Father to replace those thoughts and feelings with the truth. Jesus referring to God as “our Father” tells us that God wants to have a personal relationship with us. He is proud of us. He wants the best for us. He wants to nurture and protect us. And like a good dad, God will also push us to do more than we ever thought we were capable of doing. 

He is also our Father in heaven. Dallas Willard says, “Unfortunately, ‘Our Father who art in heaven’ has come to mean “Our Father who is far away and much later. In many of the translations ‘the heavens’ are erroneously translated ‘heaven.’ But ‘heavens’ sees God as far ‘out’ as imaginable but also right down to the atmosphere around our heads. This wording of the plural robs the wording in the model prayer of the sense Jesus intended. That sense is, ‘Our Father always near us.’”

This use of the word “heaven” reminds us that God is forever enthroned, and that He is our spiritual Father here and now, by the Holy Spirit. We can experience the fullness of a close relationship with our heavenly Father now. This is a beautiful and comforting truth in which we can rest.

“Our Father in heaven, thank You for the truth in Scripture that reminds me that You are my Father. Would You work in my heart to show me the areas that my view of You as my Father is skewed from what Scripture says? And would You reaffirm the areas in which I do rest in truth? By faith, I believe that You are my loving, caring, truth-filled Father, and I believe that You will continue to guide me in that truth. Amen.”