The Meaning of The Lord's Prayer

Our Father – This shows that God is the Creator of us all. He is our Heavenly Father, our Parent, our Guardian. The One who watches over us, protects us, guides us, and loves us!  

Which art in heaven – This signifies God’s majesty, He is everywhere, knows all things, and is all powerful.  

Hallowed be thy Name – God’s Names is pronounced, or declared, HOLY! His Name is to be celebrated, honored, and respected.  

Thy kingdom come – This is a desire, a prayer, that God’s will be obeyed everywhere. A true child of God will cry out for Him to reign everywhere  

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven – God’s will is that people everywhere would obey, and be holy. The word “will” means “what is acceptable in His sight. It is God’s desire that people would hunger to know His will, and long to please Him. In heaven, His will is obeyed perfectly. We should pray that would be the case on Earth as well.  

Give us this day our daily bread – Bread represents everything necessary for life. He is our provider!  

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors – Our sins put us in debt to God. We are guilty of breaking His law, and are condemned to death. But He chose to forgive us through the complete work of the blood of Jesus Christ. We are forever in His debt. What does He ask in return? Forgive others. Love others. Treat others with the kindness we would show Him.
   
And lead us not into temptation - Whenever we are tempted, O thou that helpest our infirmities, suffer us not to enter into temptation; to be overcome or suffer loss thereby; but make a way for us to escape, so that we may be more than conquerors, through thy love, over sin and all the consequences of it. (Wesley)  

But deliver us from evil – Satan is the evil one, the parent of all evil. Here we are taught to pray, “deliver us from his power, his snares, his arts, his temptations.”

For thine is the kingdom – Everything belongs to God, the Creator of the Universe. He reigns over it all, and therefore has control over it.  

and the power – All power belongs to God. We are weak, He is strong, and has the power to accomplish all we ask.  

and the glory forever – Nothing is done for us, but all things should be to the praise of Him! All glory, honor, and praise. Everything we do should always point to Him!  

Amen - This is a word of Hebrew origin, from a verb signifying “to be firm, secure, to be true and faithful.”

Focus

God gave me a word, several months ago, and when He spoke it to me, I felt like I needed to write it in big letters, and put it on my refrigerator.  He said, “Focus on the Positive, Praise Me for the good.” 

These words came to me during a time when all I could think about, was the bad.  You know what I mean.  Sometimes, we get so preoccupied with something, it absolutely overwhelms our lives!

This is where I was living. I was not backslid.  I was praying every day.  I was at church every service.  But all I could think about, was the turmoil I felt in my heart. I was almost in mourning!  But God showed me, that the way I was living, was in a state of oppression.  The enemy was taking over.  I was no good to anybody in that condition.  So I did as I was told, and I wrote “Focus on the Positive, Praise Me for the Good” and put it on the fridge.  And every time I noticed my mind trying to run away, I remembered these words.  God wants us to focus on Him.  When we pray, He is our focus. When we worship, He is our focus. When we study, He is our focus.  But now, God was telling me, He is to be my focus, in the good times and the bad.  On the mountain, and in the valley.  If you only shout victory when the battle is won, you are missing a great blessing that the Lord has for you. 

Try putting the Lord as your focus, no matter what you are doing. If you are mopping, ironing, driving, or making lunch. If you are driving a tractor, or hammering, or running a machine in a factory, stay in the presence of God.  He was to bring you deeper.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for every mountain, and for every valley.

I thank you that you are always there to guide my every step.

I thank you for the many blessings I see every day,

And for all those I may never see. 

Help me to put you center in my life.

I want my focus to be Jesus Christ.

Remind me of your presence throughout my day.

I love You, and can’t wait to know You more!