Pray for what is on God's Heart, Praying The Lord's Prayer (2.8.15)

Faith Believers,

The first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer speak more clearly to GOD’s purposes in the world than any other passage of scripture. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9–10), He was teaching them to pray what was on the Father’s heart. The three things that the Father most wants to see happen on earth are for His name to be glorified, for His kingly rule to be established, and for His will to be done fully and completely. These are the Father’s grand-scale purposes. When we pray for them, we are praying in accord with God’s will. These are things that must happen, and will happen. Jesus asked us to pray for them so that the Father could make them happen in accord with our prayers.

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we are not telling GOD what we are going to do. 

We are asking Him to do what only He can do. 

We are making bold prayers of intercession to an almighty GOD.  Author Darrell W. Johnson, in 'Fifty-Seven Words that Change the World', notes: “The verbs of the Lord’s Prayer, addressed to the Superior of superiors, are in the imperative. They are commands, not requests. Be hallowed! Be done! All in the command form. To pray the Lord’s Prayer is to command—not to ask—but to command. . . . This may strike you as somewhat audacious. Who are we to speak to GOD in such a manner? What helps, is to know that the verbs in the first three petitions are in the passive voice. . . . The passive voice softens the tone. Instead of ‘do it,’ it is ‘be done.’ But the verbs are passive for a more fundamental reason. Only GOD can do what we are asking to have done.”

Thank God for what you have.  Trust God for what you need,

  - Marilyn Chaney

 ~  Prayer  ~

Awesome Lord,

Only You are able to do what I ask in prayer! 

Forgive me for trying to do so much 

for You in my own strength. 

I bow down before Your throne of power 

and simply ask that Your name will be glorified
in all the earth, that Your kingly rule will be
established forever and ever, and that
Your perfect will may be done fully and completely!

In Your Son Jesus' Name,

Amen