Give yourself a “teaching moment” this week. Something spiritually intimate and personal. Take a lunch by yourself one day. Or give yourself an afternoon in a park or some other quiet place especially inspirational to you.

 

If you know the words of this most familiar prayer, often referred to as the Lord’s Prayer, recite them softly to yourself, letting the presence of God surround you with his agape love. If you are unfamiliar with this prayer, it’s easy to find in any Christian Bible. Turn to The New Testament book of Matthew 6:9-13; and repeated in Luke 11:1-4.

 

In a notebook, diary, or on a simple piece of paper, write out your responses to this prayer, the one most oft-repeated by Christ-followers everywhere. Fill this prayer with heartfelt and meaningful thoughts related to your own sacred journey through life. Fuller Seminary professor Clayton Schmit, says, “there is a sense of solidarity in knowing that Christians around the globe are praying together … and these words always unite us.”

 

Go ahead. Engage in a “teaching moment” with the Lord.

 

For example:

“Our Father in Heaven, allowed be your name”

May this be true, Lord, in me. May your name be hallowed in my mouth, in my mind, and in all my motivations.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Father, may you reign supreme in me, so that everything I do is done according to your will. Give me eyes to see as you see; may I follow your lead and direction, to do your will within my sphere of life and influence.

“Give us today our daily bread,”

You are aware of our needs and our resources. We have been stewards of our  earnings, saving and investing for tomorrow. You know all our tomorrows, so I am trusting in you for those. Today, I pray for today’s needs.

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Thank you, Father, that you have gone way beyond my ability to forgive and have forgiven me of my load of debt to you. I am and will be eternally grateful.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Guard My Way, Lord, that I will not succumb to the temptation of sloth, but stay on the edge of growth in you. My eternal praise.

 

As you do this, may it become for you an exercise filled with spiritual meaning and intimate fellowship with Jesus.

 

The above Lord’s Prayer “teaching moment” is from Dixie’s diary, 21 February 2009. Dixie changed her address to heaven on 04 August 2015. For more of my wife’s diary thoughts and the inspiring story of her life, the book, Sacred Journey, may be found in bookstores or online at Amazon.