March 9.
Our Father

Matthew 6:9-11

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

Our Father is God. The whole prayer is laid out and has God in view. When Jesus says, “Our Father which art in heaven.” He’s talking about God’s Parental. When he says, “Hallowed by thy name.” He’s talking about God’s priority. When He says, “Thy kingdom come.” He’s talking about God’s program. When He says, Thy will be done.” He’s talking about God’s plan. When He says, “Give us this day our daily bread.” He’s talking about God’s provision. When he says, “Forgive us of our debts as we forgive our debtors.” He’s talking about God’s pardon. And when He says, “Deliver us from evil.” He is talking about God’s protection. The focus is God and his kingdom.

So Jesus gave us a wonderful prayer that is appropriate any time. It sets our focus straight and sets the tone for extended prayer. One of the reasons that sometimes we’re weak, wounded, and without strength is because we have not taken advantage of a prayer life We need to understand that when we talk to God, He answers our prayers in several ways. Sometimes when you ask him for something He says no, sometimes He says slow, sometimes He says grow and sometimes He says Go! In other words, if you ask for something that you don’t need, since you are His child He says no. If you ask for something that you need, but you can’t handle it yet, He says slow. If you ask for something and it’s already in store for you, He says “before I give it to you, I need to know you can really handle it, because you may stop praising me.” so He says grow. And then if you ask for something that you know you need and He knows you can handle it, He says Go. In other words, go get it! No, Slow, Grow, and then Go!