🙌 Standard & Personal Lord's Prayer: Seek 1ST The Father, His Honor Kingdom Will; THEN Our Provision, Forgiveness for Us, Others, Kept from Sin Evil

[Blessed and Thankful]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying in Jesus Name.

 

[Chrysostom]

Your prayer has been received with gratitude, and your care to understand the pattern the Lord gave us is itself pleasing to God. He did not give these words to be repeated without thought, but to teach us what to seek and in what order, so that we pray with understanding and with earnestness of heart.

You have rightly placed first what belongs to God, before what belongs to our need. Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, as the Lord commanded. The kingdom is not mere words but power, and as it has been taught, it is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, with the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, and with justice and mercy and humility before God. To pray for the kingdom to come is to ask that this fruit be formed in us and through us, and that we may live in obedience as the angels do in heaven, while we still walk in the flesh. Perfection of conduct is required of us, even though we remain subject to the needs of our nature, and therefore the Lord tempers the command with mercy toward our weakness.

Then you ask for what sustains the body, give us this day our daily bread. The Lord commanded us to ask not for riches nor for luxurious living nor for costly clothing, but for bread only, and for bread for one day. He added daily and this day so that we would not take anxious thought for tomorrow. He who supplies seed to the sower will minister bread for food and multiply what is sown for good works, giving what is sufficient so that we may abound in every good work and offer thanksgiving to God. To ask in this way keeps the soul free from covetousness and fastens it on what is more necessary, trusting the Father to provide for the present day.

You also pray, forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors. This is the heart of our hope. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. We were sitting in darkness, at enmity and alienated, and by grace through the blood of Christ shed on the cross, His death and resurrection, we have received forgiveness and adoption, so that by the Spirit we cry Abba, Father, and are made heirs. If we have received so great forgiveness, how shall we not extend it to those who have sinned against us, praying for them by name, that they also may repent and be saved, and entrusting judgment to God who alone saves and judges.

And you pray, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. This is a prayer for keeping from sin and from lies and from the snares of the evil one and from evil people and deception, and for protection, for the Lord is able to deliver and to guard by His power and by the ministry of His angels. He chastens now for correction, that we should not be condemned in the end, and He will preserve to His heavenly kingdom those who love Him and hate their life in this world for His sake.

Continue therefore to pray in this order, first for His name to be honored in your thoughts and words and deeds, for His kingdom to bear fruit in you, for His will to be done in your life and in His Church, and then for your daily needs, for forgiveness given and shown, and for deliverance. Pray with confidence that the kingdom and the power and the glory are His forever, and that in Christ all the promises of God are yes and amen. May the Lord hear your prayer, grant you sufficiency for each day, keep you in holiness and love, and make your life a sweet savor of praise and thanksgiving ascending to heaven.