Reflecting on the Lord’s Prayer

When I reflected on the Lord’s prayer, it was the "why" behind the disciple's question. When I began to unpack the Lord's Prayer, it occurred to me that the disciple who asked probably heard the Pharisees praying and had been in the Temple to hear the offering of prayers during sacrifices. Still, he realized a marked difference between the prayers he had heard growing up and Jesus’ prayers. He also knew that John the Baptist had taught his disciples how to pray, which inspired him to ask the question. The prayers Jesus prayed carried something that he longed for. They inspired, broke chains, healed a withered hand, cast out unclean spirits, and brought the Kingdom of God to earth. He knew the prayers of religion differed from the prayers of Jesus. The relationship is always the marked difference. When we know the “will” of the Father, we pray the “will” of the Father. We honor God first; then, we pray His will and His Kingdom. After that, we seek Him for our provision and protection. This simple prayer carries such truth, but we first must see the difference in religion and relationship.

Luke 13:1-4

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.  Give us each day our daily bread,  and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Pastor Benaiah Snider