The Disciples’ Prayer is a pattern for life

 

The last part of the prayer that Jesus taught is what I learned as a child. Later, I was told that this part was not in the earliest manuscripts:

“For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13).

Even if Matthew did not include this line, it seems a fit way to end the prayer in the tone it was given. His kingdom is His kingdom, His power, and His glory forever — and so be it.

MacArthur quotes an unknown author’s thoughts and they are so profound that I want to quote them also:

“I cannot say ‘our’ if I live only for myself in a spiritual, watertight compartment. I cannot say ‘Father’ if I do not endeavor each day to act like His child. I cannot say ‘who art in heaven’ if I am laying up no treasure there.

“I cannot say ‘hallowed be Thy name’ if I am not striving for holiness. I cannot say ‘Thy kingdom come’ if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful day. I cannot say ‘Thy will be done‘ if I am disobedient to His Word. I cannot say ‘in earth as it is in heaven’ if I will not serve Him here and now.

“I cannot say ‘give us . . . our daily bread’ if I am dishonest or an ‘under the counter’ shopper. I cannot say ‘forgive us our debts’ if I harbor a grudge against anyone. I cannot say ‘lead us not into temptation’ if I deliberately place myself in its path. I cannot say ‘deliver us from evil’ if I do not put on the whole armor of God.

“I cannot say ‘thine is the kingdom’ if I do not give to the King the loyalty due Him as a faithful subject. I cannot attribute to Him ‘the power’ if I fear what men may do. I cannot ascribe to Him ‘the glory’ if I am seeking honor only for myself. I cannot say ‘forever’ if the horizon of my life is bounded completely by the things of time.”

This study of how Jesus wants me to pray has had a strong effect, partly because the needs and prayer requests of the past few weeks have been serious and heavy on my heart. A young woman is caught in satanic schemes. A relative is highly involved in a Christ-denying cult. A young man aged 39 had a heart attack and died, leaving a wife, children and a shocked and grieving family. A refugee living in a relatively safe country for seven years and nearing the day when she and her family can come to Canada has been detained by the police.

Besides those burdens, I’ve been working with deadlines, given a large responsibility by a non-profit organization that I belong to, asked to lead a woman’s prayer group, encouraged to organize a family reunion involving more than 200 people, and am sitting in an airport waiting to fly to another city to deliver a gift to a family member. That means not attending the funeral of the 39-year-old and wanting to be in two places at once. I could whine about my aches and pains but refuse to give in to self-pity. Why? Because I’m in God’s kingdom, relying on His power, for His glory, praying about forever stuff and that His will be done — in all those needs and in those things He calls me to do.

 Jesus, applying this prayer to my prayers is relatively easy, but I know that I need to ‘think’ these things, not merely say them. The prayer is too easy to recite rather than expand and apply to life’s burdens and troubles. Help me focus on Your kingdom and glory and rely on Your strength. You know how helpless I feel and how much I need You.

MORE: Read the Lord’s prayer in John 17 paying attention to His priorities as He prayed.

 

And lead us not into temptation . . .

 

‘Temptation’ suggests an appeal to do something forbidden, with many examples. However, the word Jesus used when telling us to pray “lead us not into temptation” can also mean a ‘trial’ such as Jesus experienced in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1ff) or that James describes as a spiritual character builder (James 1:2-4). Trials can be temptations only if we respond to them in a sinful way.

This is what Jesus wants me to pray about: that our Father does not lead me into trials that become an irresistible temptation that leads to sin. God also promises:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The way of escape will be there, yet praying to be delivered from trials that will overcome me is important. I cannot do it myself or I would not need Jesus. Besides, this prayer reminds me that I cannot rely on my own strength and need His power to defeat sin. It is a prayer of humility.

It is also a prayer that reminds me to keep short accounts with God. If I harbor sin in my heart, it ruins my usefulness, stifles my joy, and robs prayer of its power. “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm 66:18)

Sin is the biggest reason for unanswered prayer and often, sin is not noticed or called sin. We tend to put it in categories, calling the worst sins those that we do not do, and excusing others as ‘forgiven’ without realizing that gossip, holding grudges, judging others, or envy puts us apart from God in the same prison cell as murder, adultery, and robbery. Nothing makes our prayer life more difficult than sin. ‘Big’ or ‘little’ — both cross the line.

Resisting temptation requires spiritual discipline and divine resources. Think of Joseph’s trials. He was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused by an adulterous woman, and unjustly imprisoned by a jealous husband, yet knew that God was with him all those years and in all situations. He could eventually say to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to . . .  preserve many people alive” (Genesis 50:20).

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil to destroy Him. He passed those tests using Scripture truth as His defense. This reveals my part in defeating sin.

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)

Jesus, You said that in this world we will have trouble. Trials will come but it is not God’s will that I let them become temptations. I need Your wisdom and strength to even recognize a temptation, never mind overcome it. I also need great willingness to say NO to selfish or self-protecting responses and trust You to use all trials to shape my life and teach me greater reliance on You. Help me see trials also as a way to bring You glory. And because You say US, may all Your children also see trials according to Your purposes rather than letting them lead them into temptation. Deliver us, dear Jesus, from the evil one.

MORE HELP: What do these verses say about resisting temptation: Matthew 26:41, Ephesians 6:10–18, and James 4:7?