Intro

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Discussion

For decade I have prayed unto God in the wrong manner. Why? Because I did never knew the correct way to do so. Now I know the Lord’s Prayer. I have said that Prayer for decades as well. However, it is different than truly praying correctly to our Creator through His Son Jesus Christ our Savior. Yet, it is exactly the same.

1 John 5:13-14 – I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. (Amplified classic)

One of the main keys is these two verses is asking for anything that is according to God’s will. God’s will is something that is fully beyond the knowledge of the average person. Nevertheless, we are given clues in other verses. One of the main of these is that we as Christians are to seek after the eternal and not the temporal. This theme is played out time and again in multiple verses.

John 5:24 – “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

Galatians 6:7-8 – Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

These are only two examples. So, this shows the will of God, because it shows that He loves humanity, all of humanity. Because God wishes to have a relationship with all within the human race. The only problem is that most in humanity wish to be their own gods. Living their lives as they see fit to do so. As is witnessed in the verses from Galatians that were just used.

When praying. We should not seek things of the world, but those things that will glorify God and His Son our Savior Jesus Christ. We should pursue those things that give glory to God’s plan. We should seek after knowledge on what to say and how to show the truth of what is within the Bible. Not after wealth and possessions.

Now we have to understand. Seeking a job is not seeking after wealth. So, asking for a job is not the same as seeking after riches. For in today’s day and age we are not all farmers. To receive our daily bread requires money. However, if this job gives us wealth beyond our daily bread and simply comforts. What is extra does not belong to us, but to God.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 – Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. 13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

Now we have to remember an important thing. This is seen in the sermon on the mount. For it is here that Jesus Christ explains how we should pray unto our Father the Creator of the universe.

Matthew 6:5-15 – And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

This is the formula given to us by the Son of God. So, this is how we should say all our prayers. Not beyond this. Which is why I said earlier when I first mentioned the Lord’s Prayer. That it was different and yet exactly the same. That is why we need to remember this is not just a template, but it is a pattern that should not be expanding beyond. Yet most of the times in today’s world most do that take the time to pray. I know this without any doubt. For I myself have prayed beyond this.

So let us examine this formula.

First, we are told to pray in secret and not to make a show of it. An example of this can be seen when people insist on praying in restaurants before a meal. They have gotten their reward at that very moment.

Second, we are told not to pray in “vain repetitions.” An example of this repetition is seen when you are within the confessional of those churches. Where a person confesses their sins to a person instead unto God through Jesus Christ and repent of their sins. We then are to strive to end sin within their lives permanently as an alternative to continually living in hypocrisy. As we look further into the word that makes the words “vain repetitions.” In the breakdown of the word in the TDNT we come to this meaning: “to speak futilities.”

Futilities the plural of futility – the fact of having no effect or of achieving nothing per Cambridge Dictionary.

What this boils down to is asking for things of the world. Also doing it constantly and repeatedly. And for things that give the person temporal pleasures, that are fleeting.

Now let us examine the Lord’s prayer.

“Our Father who is in heaven, Holy is Your name.” For God is the Father of all humanity. If they wish to accept it or not. We should always begin our prayers acknowledging our Creator and giving Him what He is due. Our devotion and respect. For He is Holy.

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Next in we are to ask for the return of Jesus Christ. So that the thousand-year reign of Christ will begin. Where His will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This will then lead to the eternal reign of God in New Jerusalem. (Revelation 21:1-8) In the new universe promised by God. (Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1)

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Here Jesus shows we are asking God to provide for our food and comfort. For it is He that provides us everything we are given.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Or as listed in Luke 11:4 – “And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.” This one took some research because this verse is also known as: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.” I went through the multiple pages on the topic of “sin” in the TDNT.

When getting into the legal and theological aspect of the word “sin” we come to the word “Transgress.”

Transgress – to break a law or moral rule.

To transgress is akin to trespass.  So, in 1526 when Willian Tyndale released his version of the New Testament. This is the first time the word “trespass” was used and has been adopted primarily by the Catholic Church.

“Debts” is the KJV translation. What it boils down to is sin not actually debts. People have confused the true means of the wording for centuries. In actuality the best translation is “trespass.” For we have trespassed against God by not being loyal to what we are told to do within the Bible. For people do not take the wording of verse fourteen into account, which corresponds with the wording of “trespass.”

“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Here we are shown we must continually request guidance from our Lord. To in a sense give us road signs that will point us away from those sins that temp us away from God and His ultimate goal for us, which is eternal life. However if we falter, we also ask that He would deliver us form those sins which are evil itself.

Therefore, before we move to the conclusion of the prayer. Let us review how we should pray. Pray in secret. Do not pray repeatedly for the things of the world over and over again, for personal pleasures and desires. When praying give full honor to God showing that He is the focal point of our existence. That it is our wish that God has full dominion over all once again. Understand where our daily food and comforts come from and ask for His indulgence in providing it. Ask God to forgive us for our sins and then willingly forgive those that have sinned against us. As God has done for us through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Then ask the Lord to lead us away from the temptation of sin. However, if we fail, and falter into sin. We ask the Lord our God to deliver us from the evils of sin.

“For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” We should end our prayers once again acknowledging that God is Sovereign over all existence, and from Him flows all the energies and prerogatives. So, He deserves all the glory. So what does “glory” truly mean.

praise and thanks, especially as given to God per Cambridge dictionary.

Therefore, as you can see. When you truly look into how we pray, we must always make God the true center of not only our heavenly focal point, but as well our earthly focal point. God must be the center of our universe. And all our wants and desires must fit His plans and not our plans and desires. That is the true meaning of how praying should be pursued in all its forms. Not just the Lord’s Prayer as it is called, but all of them. The Lord’s Prayer is just the pattern we must use, that keeps God at the center and not us.

God Bless