FAITH AND PRAYER

About two years ago my sister-in-law shared a prayer she wrote based on the Lord's Prayer, which is found in Matthew 6:9-13. She had recently done a study on that prayer, and then wrote this prayer thinking of what it means to our lives today. She used related scriptures and her own words. I asked her if she minded if I put it here on my blog and shared with all of you, and she agreed to that. So here it is. We both hope you will be blessed by it.

Prayer patterned after The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven…You are OUR Father.  You are our Source of Life.    You are our provider and you love us deeply with an everlasting love.  You see from heaven and know our every need.  You hear from heaven and are attentive to our prayers. Yet you live in us as well through your Holy Spirit.

O Father, hallowed be your name…You are the Great I Am.  You are everything that we need.  Your name is awesome and majestic in all the earth.  We worship you.  We praise your name.   We pray that all peoples on earth may recognize your holiness and greatness.

May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  We would pray that you may rule in our hearts and that our lives may more and more be patterned after that of Your Son, Jesus, so that others may see our good works and give glory to your name.    Oh Father, we seek to do your will each day.  Make us more loving, giving, and serving.  May we be more concerned with the needs of others than we are with our own needs.

We look to you to give us this day our daily bread.   Father, we recognize that you are the Source of every good and perfect gift and you provide for our daily needs.  Help us not to be focused on our wants.     Make us mindful daily that Jesus is the Bread of Life and that you have provided for our spiritual needs as well as our physical needs.  You are our Shepherd…You lead us in green pastures.

And Father, please forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.  This is hard.   We want to be forgiven, but have such a hard time forgiving those who have wronged us.  Help us to be merciful just as you have shown us mercy.

Lead us in the paths of righteousness for your name’s sake.  Keep us focused on you and your will, so that we may not be led astray.  Please protect us from all evil.

We praise you for who you are.  You are our King and you reign with Power and Glory forever!   Amen!