Careful What You Pray

Matthew 6:9-13

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

“I cannot say OUR if I live in a logic-tight spiritual compartment thinking only people who agree with me are going to heaven. I cannot say FATHER if I do not demonstrate that relationship in my daily life. I cannot say WHICH ART IN HEAVEN if I am so occupied with the earth that I am laying up no treasure there. I cannot say HALLOWED BE THY NAME if I, who am called by His name, am not holy. I cannot say THY WILL BE DONE if I am questioning, resentful or disobedient to His will for me. I cannot say ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN if I am not prepared to devote my life here to His service. I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD if I am living on past experience or looking elsewhere for satisfaction and motivation. I cannot say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE THAT TRESPASS AGAINST US if I harbor a grudge against anyone. I cannot say LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION if I deliberately place myself or remain in a position where I am likely to be tempted. I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL if I am not prepared to fight it in the spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer. I cannot say THINE IS THE KINGDOM if I do not afford the King the disciplined obedience of a loyal subject. I cannot say THINE IS THE POWER if I fear what men may do or what my neighbors may think. I cannot say THINE IS THE GLORY if I am seeking glory for myself. I cannot say FOR EVER AND EVER if my horizon is bound by the things of time. I cannot say AMEN if I do not also add the phrase “cost what it may.” Because to say this prayer honestly will take everything I have.” 

From Derric Johnson