A God Who Listens
Praise is the miraculous and spontaneous response to all that God has done and is doing in your life. friend, take a moment and just reflect on the goodness of God in your life. Count your blessings! And now, let’s come back to the Lord’s Prayer.
“Our Father, in Heaven hallowed be your name…”
This is a moment of spontaneous praise in the prayer! The Son of God tells us to praise His Father.
I will get us started: “God, you are holy and I worship you. You are worthy of my praise, and I refuse to hold it back. I am safe with my Father and secure in my Father’s house! I worship God because He is worthy of that praise!” Praise is our joy verbalized!
I did a wedding on Tuesday afternoon on the beach in Washington State. The setting was perfect, the sun was warm, the breeze was cool, and then there was this amazing couple coming to God to bless their union. The couple was blending a family, and the bride’s two daughters made a speech welcoming their Mom’s new husband as an important part of their lives. My heart was filled with wonder, and I had to praise God for giving me a front-row seat to their love story. Jesus gave us a front-row seat to God’s love story, and we are the BRIDE! We should praise Him and that is why we say, “Hallowed or holy is your name”. The prayer goes on:
“...your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
This section reminds me of something I said earlier, “Have you any of you ever had your mind wander when you are praying?” At times, I struggle to stay focused. John Ortber Cone said, “I often mistake prayer for worrying out loud”. That is SO true in my life! I start on one topic, sincerely asking God for help, and then worry creeps in. Before I know it, I am thinking about the global thermo-nuclear war! This part of the Lord’s Prayer brings me back, it helps me find my place in the truth. My Father is a King, and I am a resident and citizen of His Kingdom, and I am who He says I am...period. I am a child of God and my purpose is to serve His will on Earth, for as long as He grants me the breath to accomplish that plan.
friend, have you found your place in the Kingdom of God? Your miracle today is the confident knowledge that God hears you and that He has named you as an heir to His Kingdom. Be confident today, as you pray:
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13, NKJV)
You are a miracle!
