I sometimes have a challenge going to sleep at night. My mind races. My heart quickens and I start to slide into worry. I have learned that breathing helps…counting backward from 300 by 3’s helps…but nothing works as well as when I contemplate The Lord’s Prayer. Last night, as I tried to get my mind to rest…these were the thoughts I was thinking before I fell asleep. I hope, gentle reader…that you enjoy my ramblings…and next time you say the Lords Prayer, you contemplate the commitment you are making. God’s Blessing Be on you today…and every day!
“Our Father…”
He is Our Father. He is my father. He is the father of all. Wait. He is My Father. HE is MY Father? Wait. HE IS MY FATHER! I have a heavenly inheritance from the MOST HIGH GOD. He says He formed me in my mother’s womb. He knew me (HE KNEW ME?!) before I was born. He knows the plans He has for me. And His plans, are so much greater than what I know…or can even imagine for myself. And He is MY Father. He loves me. He made me fearfully and wonderfully! What an amazing inheritance! I am a child of the Most High God. Hallelujah!
“For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. [14] I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 13-14
“‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. [12] Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. [13] You will see me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’ Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)
“Who Art in Heaven…”
Your resting place, Your home is in heaven. It is more than what I can see or even imagine. And You have promised me a room in Your heavenly kingdom. This is part of my inheritance! Amen!
“He said:
“[3]Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4]Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. [5]Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. [6]Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. [7]Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. [8]Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. [9]Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. [10]Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5: 3-10 (NIV)
“Hallowed be Thy Name…”
Your name is SO powerful. You are “El Shaddai” God Almighty, “Elohim” Creator, “Jehovah Jirah” God will Provide, “Jehovah Rapha” God who Heals, “Abba” Father. Your name is to be revered and meant as blessing, a praising, not a curse. Never to be taken in a funny or distasteful or ugly way. Father God, I ask that You forgive me for ever thinking that Your name was just something to say. It is SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT! I call upon you in times of strife and abundance and I thank You all the days of my life…because I woke up this morning. I have a family. We are healthy and happy. Thank You Father God for this wonderful crazy plan You have for me.
“Thy Kingdom Come…”
I am waiting. I want to be there. I will be there. But Lord, You know my fickle heart. I want to see my children grow old. I want to hold my grandchildren. Can You please make that happen? Can You be so kind as to grant us, Your ungrateful children, some more time? I cannot promise that we will be better as humans. In fact, You know the spiritual warfare everyone on earth is facing…but we are fighting. With Your word, and Your love and Your Spirit…we are fighting the good fight. We love You, Father God.
“Thy Will be Done…”
Your will is so plain. You gave us Your son, Yourself…and told us how to behave.
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’. [40] All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)
“On Earth as it is in Heaven”
What would happen if, we as humans, behaved like our angelic hosts in heaven? From what I have read…from folks who have gone to heaven and then returned…there is only Love. There is only music and light. There is no illness, no anger, no fear. Just pure love and light. We CAN emulate that here on earth. We could if we wanted to. How difficult would it be to be nice and courteous? Oh, but our flesh is weak. And so we sow seeds of discontent and allow others to sow those seeds in our lives. Let’s be thankful. Let’s be grateful. That we can inherit the kingdom of heaven. I can imagine what Eden was like…Heaven on Earth. No death, no sin, no envy or anger or fear. We had it here…and we, lowly humans that we are, decided to throw it away. Sigh.
“Give Us This Day…”
Every single day is new. You created this beautiful world for me and mine. And every single day is a blessing, a covenant. It holds something NEW every single day. How great You are, Father God. You make beauty from ashes. And You gave this all to us. Thank You for waking this morning. Thank You for the breath that fills my body, unimpeded. Thank You that live in this nation, on this earth. How can I serve You better, Lord? How can I be what You want me to be? Show me…speak to me…
“Our Daily Bread…”
You word. Every single day. Write it on our hearts. And in our minds. You already have. That was the new covenant that You made with us. Instead of being written on stone and being unattainable, Your wrote it on our hearts and want to have a personal relationship with us. Thank You. We just need to take the effort to pick up the scripture and make it a daily habit. Like drinking coffee which wakes my body up, Your word is a precious balm to my world-weary, heart sore, soul.
“And Forgive Us our Trespasses”
You have promised to forgive us. When Your Son, Jesus, died upon the cross and then was resurrected…it was your covenant with us that our sins would be forgiven. Oh, Lord…I am so unworthy of that great love. How great Your love for us, that held your Son upon that lonely tree. How great the gift! How great the Love! That He would DIE for even me. (Lyrics-How Great the Love)
“Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. [9] He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. [10] All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. [11] For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.” Psalm 25: 8-11 (NIV)
“As We Forgive those Who Trespass Against Us”
We are commanded to forgive others because is we cannot give those folks the grace that our Good Lord showed us…then we are lost.
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)
He forgives our iniquity, our greed, our slovenly behavior, our lust…all those things that the flesh fights against. Confess with your mouth and you will be forgiven. Turn away from the sin…and you will be forgiven. He is so good to us and we do not deserve his graciousness.
“And Lead Us Not into Temptation”
Would the Lord, our Father God lead us into temptation? This could be argued, I suppose…since God did make us. He gave us the ability to have free will. I do not think he intended for us to be tempted…but there is the great tempter, Lucifer, who wants us to be less than him. Remember, gentle reader…we were given free will, while the Angels in heaven were not. How jealous and angry do you think some of the Angels were when they found this out? Pretty mad I would say. And now, thanks to the devil…we have sin. We have all these things. And he still wants us to turn our backs against God. By telling us lies…by making us believe there is no God…when ALL of creation (and ironically, even the devil himself was formed by God) was formed by God’s own hands. You ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THE SUM OF YOUR PARTS, dear one. And Father God, He wants all of you! Take your ugly to Him. He, who heals…who loves…who forgives. He wants You!
“But Deliver Us from Evil, Amen.”
Thank You, Father God. From keeping us from despair. For giving us life and hope and light. You are amazing and I am so grateful that you believe in us lowly humans. We can never do enough for you. And the worst thing would be to be separated from you forever and ever. I know my place is in heaven. I know I have a room in Your magnificent palace. A home…a heavenly home. Filled with love, and joy and light. Thank You.
nwminnesotamo 