This week’s sermon at my church was about the phrase “give us this day, our daily bread”. I had never fixated on that phrase before but am now feeling very connected to it and what it means for believers to receive nourishment and energy from God every day. I’m curious what lines in the Lord’s Prayer do you connect with?
“Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from the evil one.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.”
The Lord’s Prayer: What are the verses before the Lord’s Prayer? Try starting with Matthew 6:5. Things may change a lot for you.
(5-6)
“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."
(7-8)
“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."
(9a)
“Pray, then, in this way:"
Is Matthew 6:9b - 13 something for you to repeat, or is it an example of the form you should use when praying?
Should we be repeating the Lord’s Prayer?
“Pray, then, in this way:" Matthew 6:9a Is the prayer to be repeated or is the form (content) of the prayer to be used?
That part has always been difficult for me as well. My pastor just gave an incredible sermon on this topic. My favorite quote from it was “Forgiveness doesn’t excuse sin. It disempowers it.” Here’s the link if you want to check it out.
I find myself drawn to the line “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
It resonates deeply with my journey of learning to let go of grievances and embrace grace. Each time I say this line, I’m reminded that forgiveness is not just a one-way street; it’s a challenge and a commitment.
It pushes me to reflect on my own shortcomings and the times I’ve missed the mark, and in turn, it calls me to extend that same grace to others.
It’s a humbling reminder that healing and connection often begin with forgiveness. I’m learning that it’s not just about receiving forgiveness but also about actively choosing to forgive, setting myself free from the burdens I carry.
Thank you for sharing. I love what you said - especially about how forgiveness sets us free from the burdens we carry. It’s such a powerful choice and is so hard but so worth it!