Daily devotion – Thursday 16th September 2021
The power of prayer!
Matthew 6: 9 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
The Lord’s prayer contains six petitions. The first three are concerned with the glory of God (His name, His kingdom, and His will), while the second three are concerned with us and our needs (daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance).
A similar priority is recognized in the Ten Commandments, as the first five handle our duty to God and the second five our relationship to our neighbour.
God’s glory, His name, His rule and His will are mentioned first. A name stands for the Person who bears it, for His nature, character, and activity.
In this case, God’s name is God Himself as He has revealed Himself. His name is already holy in that it is exalted above every other name. Yet we pray for its “hallowing”, that is, that it may be given the honour due to it in our lives, in His Church and as we live in the world.
The very Kingdom of God is His royal rule, not so much in its absolute sovereignty over nature and history, but as it broke into the world with the first coming of Jesus.
To pray for God’s Kingdom to come is to pray that it may grow, as through the Church’s witness people submit to Jesus Christ, and that it will be consummated when Jesus comes in all His glory!
Because God’s will is the will of Him who is perfect in knowledge, love and power – it is folly to resist it and wisdom to discern, desire, and do it!
Therefore, we need to pray that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Beginning first in our own lives each day!
This week, as you go before the Lord in prayer each day, follow Jesus direction and pray for God’s will to be done in your life, in your marriage, in your family and then give yourself to seeing God’s will come to pass by being obedient to His Word and Will in everything that you do.