“Lord, teach us to
pray."
Luke
11:1 NIV
Even though some of us can recite the Lord’s Prayer, do we follow its plan or pray the usual way? “Oh Lord bless me, my family, my church, my city, my country.” Some place in the farthest fringe of the world may get a mention in our prayers if we see or hear something crucial in the news, but for the most part, our problems and needs come first.
Our Master teaches us to pray in the opposite order. He asks us to pray for his kingdom first, which is full of complete strangers, and then for our personal needs. Only after our prayers have crossed every far-flung continent, touched every last unreached race, after it has covered the desire and purpose God has for the entire world, are we then taught to ask for a piece of bread.
Praying backwards as Jesus taught puts things into perspective. Maybe, when we understand that Christ’s business is the supreme concern of life and that all personal considerations are second, only then do our lives have meaning and hold the power that comes from praying, “Father, hallowed be your name . . .”
Link2Life: Pray for a stranger today.
Prayer: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. Amen.
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