It's All About You????

Thine Is The Kingdom ... The Power ... And The Glory Forever!
Jesus
Matthew 6:13

Incredible

In this age of "me first," the Jesus Prayer, mandated as Jesus' answer to the disciples question, "Teach us to pray as John taught his disciples to pray,"  makes it abundantly clear that, IT is NOT ALL about me, and it is also not all about you. I know this is hard to grasp, if you are a human secularist who believes, "I am the Captain of my fate." Indeed, this is very hard to believe, if you have abandoned the absolute truths of God being over all, in all, through all, and in charge of everything. If you worship your little ole self, a mere creature, rather than The Creator, this is inconceivable; nevertheless,  if you truly wish to walk in freedom, as a fully alive person, one of the most freeing -- if not the most freeing -- realities you can ever possess, is we have a benevolent, merciful Creator, Sustainer God who began all things, sustains all things, and one day will redo all things in marvelous ways, as He makes all things new. In 2020, this seems to be incredible.

Call To Worship

However, the final touches that Jesus provided in Matthew's version of "The Lord's Prayer" Seems to call us  to worship God, as we close out our prayer to God. It may surprise you that many parts of this very short prayer can be found in literature of our brothers and sisters who are Jewish. Let me share just one example: What Jesus says here is remarkably close to an act of worship which is part of a prayer King David is praying. He is looking forward to the day when God's Holy Temple would one day be built.  Listen to just part of his of worship filled prayer:

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness

and the power

and the glory

and the Majesty

and the splendor.

For everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, O Lord is the Kingdom

You are exalted as head over all.
1 Chronicles 29:11

I don't know about you, but these prayer passages seem very familiar. And what we have here is a man worshipping God during a time that, even though he is the King of Israel, God has just told him he cannot build His, God's, Holy Temple.  Now David wanted to do this, but God did not allow it; therefore, David acknowledged who "It" was all about. And even the King got to bow down and worship, as well as yield to the Almighty.   He was not sad or broken or beaten down, as he prayed this kind of prayer similar to what Jesus taught us later.  Not at all. Quite the contrary, he became more filled with life and joy in doing so ... even though his own plans had been stopped in their tracks.   Authentic worship tends to make this kind of life changing life giving  response occur.

Comparing To Many of Our Prayers

How does this compare to many of our prayers? When I hear people calling other folks to prayer, I hear a whole lot of "God help me! Then we list our God "to do list." We call on God to step us His game, and get us what we need. And we want it now.  Please do not get me wrong. God does want to hear us regarding what we are going through; however, where is the worship in all this? And what are we missing out on because our prayers are relegated to "God it is about me?"

If you compare ours to authentic prayer, as provided by what we call the Lord's prayer, let's see what we get: First we are praying to a loving heavenly Father, but we automatically go to a place where worship arises, as we request that His name be revered (hallowed.) We continue in worship praying for His Kingdom to come. We are asking for His reign, among other things. We pray for HIS will to be done on earth just like it is done in Heaven. So, at the very least, we have 4 short acts of admiration, submission to God, and or worship. 

Then and Only Then

Then, and only then do we start asking about our stuff. "Give us, today, our daily bread." Or "Give us, today, what we need." One of those needs we highlight is forgiveness, which we ask for. This too is worship as well as meeting our need. We need to walk a godly life, so we ask that He help us overcome temptation, and deliver us from all evil.  Both of which are something the God we worship wants of us. Yes, we are blessed. Yes, we have our needs requests, but God is the one that, throughout, is acknowledged that it is all about God, as He demonstrates love to you and me.

The Blessings

Now I don't say these things to shame, blame, put down, treat you like a clown, hurt you, or make you feel guilty so that you frown. I share this because, worship has a powerful affect and effect on anyone who is willing to be humble before the Creator God, who really does love us. Jesus didn't teach us this prayer for legalistic reasons, but He taught us this prayer, as an act of worship whereby God can bless you and me, His children, as we acknowledge it is not all about you nor me.

 Final Challenges:

Let me leave you with some challenges. First, Go back up to the 1 Chronicles 29:11 verse. Sit quietly in a chair, and relax. Breath deeply and slowly. Just relax. Then read this passage slowly, and focus on God. Do this softly, and in a relaxed manner for 5 to 10 minutes. Breathe out this verse to God, as you worship God. If you get distracted, bring yourself gently back to this worship verse. Pay attention to what is happening inside of you.  You may be surprised.  Give this a try. 

Second,  if you really want to be blessed, pray 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 slowly a few times. 

Third and final challenge: Anytime you have a prayer need, or you are praying for someone else, pray the Lord's Prayer for them, and provide your prayer requests something like this:

   Our Father in Heaven,

I bow before you to pray for (name the person) to really know you, through Jesus, as their Father in Heaven.
Cause them, O Lord, to live in a way where your name is honored or revered.
Please, Lord, reign over them, and their circumstances.
Be in their midst. Be in their hearts and lives.
May your will be done in their heart and life just like it is done in Heaven. 

Give them what they need. (Name the need.)

Forgive them of their sins, O Lord, and make them forgiving people. 

Give them grace to overcome every temptation and trial.
Deliver them from all evil,

 the Evil One and all harm.

 I worship you Lord. 

For it is all about your Kingdom.

It's all because of Your Power.

And may it all be for your glory.
In Jesus Name. Amen!

I share these things with you today because I want you to ...

Be Blessed Today ... Especially Today ...
I Want You to Be A Blessing.

SoJourner