The Lord’s Prayer – Counting My Blessings

The Lord's Prayer is the perfect prayer model for disciples of Jesus. It teaches 5 things we all need to pray to persistently rely on Father in faith. #Lord'sPrayer #PersistentPrayer #AskSeekKnock #CountingMyBlessings #BlessingBloggers

I did a quick search on Amazon for books on prayer and the results included more than 70,000 titles.

So, it appears that many people continue to ask…

“Lord, teach us to pray.”
Luke 11:1

Jesus replied with a model for prayer…

“Father, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
Give us each day the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation.”
Luke 11:2b–4

5 Things Jesus Taught
His Disciples The Need to Pray For

A Relationship to a Holy Father

When you and I pray we are going to the God of the universe who alone is worthy of all worship and honor . . . who knows every detail of our lives and still He loves us and wants an intimate and personal relationship with us.

His Coming Kingdom

Jesus brought God’s Kingdom to earth and when you and I pray for His Kingdom to come we are asking for more people to come into the Kingdom through faith and for Jesus to return to celebrate His victory with all His followers.

His Provision

God’s provision is daily; so, we need to pray daily. He does not give it all at once and then walk away. He gives us what we need one moment at a time that we might learn to fully depend on Him.

His Forgiveness and Ours

God’s love and forgiveness are overwhelming. He completely erases every sin that is ever brought to Him in humble repentance. And for those who have received the Father’s forgiveness . . . forgiving others becomes a grateful response.

His Protection

Paul wrote, The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

When you and I ask God to keep us from yielding to temptation we are praying for the wisdom to set healthy boundaries and the strength to walk away in obedience.

Personalizing the Prayer Jesus Taught

Father, thank you for being my perfect loving parent. I love you and ask that You will help me honor You in all I do and say.

Please help me to faithfully focus on You that I might courageously, gently, and respectfully share Your love with others. And by Your grace help me to maintain an eternal perspective always anticipating Jesus’ glorious return for all who love, trust, and follow Him.

Please keep me free of worry and anxiety. Help me trust You with all my needs and the needs of those I love and care for. Today I specifically lift up ________________.

Please forgive me for __________. I want to obey You. I’m so sorry for failing to follow Your will and I ask You to please give me everything I need to quickly and humbly forgive those who hurt me.

Please give me a hunger to KNOW Your commands and promises, and give me what I need to fight temptation with the Sword of the Spirit—which is the truth of Your Holy Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Jesus knew that we need to pray!

And He knew we need to pray with persistence.

I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 11:9–10

Persistent prayer changes our hearts and minds to understand our need for Him and recognize His work in us, around us, and through us.

On today’s note write:

Persistently pray to the Father about everything.

May the Lord bless you today as you persistently pray the way Jesus taught.

Click here to read all of Luke 11.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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I’m asking God to bless you today!

I’ve had two times in my life when I found myself in situations that appeared hopeless.

They were times when God’s “no” to my perceived “need” seemed like more than I could endure.

The first time, I whined and stomped my feet like a spoiled child and then I listened to the lies of this world that were telling me I needed to take matters into my own hands and do what I needed to get the “yes” I so desperately wanted.

Getting what I longed for was thrilling. I was blissful and even managed to convince myself that this was really God’s will for me all along.

Sadly, the happiness didn’t last and the loss was greater than I could have imagined.

Which led me to my second bout with feelings of hopelessness…

But this time, rather than whining and stomping … I grieved.

And God met me there, in my grief. He held me close as He comforted me and pointed me to His Word and prayer.

He reminded me that He was with me.

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

And that He wanted me to have a new hope.

I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

It was that new hope that helped me surrender my heart and mind to God’s will for my future. He didn’t remove my grief but He helped me get through it moment by moment.

And one of the things that continues to help me is the new hope I enjoy when I pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s take a closer look…

How to Have New Hope When You Pray the Lord’s Prayer

♥ Our Father in Heaven

Something I had to learn was the intimate nature of the relationship God wanted with me. He wasn’t calling Himself my Father simply as the authority in my life … although, He certainly is that.

He is my Father in a personal, loving, caring, I want to be involved in your life, know your feelings, comfort you, encourage you, guide you, and so much more way.

Praying “Our Father” is going into the Holy of Holies … into the presence of the One who loves you and me most and best. The One who not only sees our future but who is already there. The One who is our strength for today and hope for tomorrow.

King David said this about him:

“I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts His praises! My body rests in hope.” Acts 2:25–26

♥ Holy Be Your Name

God’s name is holy whether you and I say it or not!

God is set apart, perfect and holy in everything He does. When you and I pray, “holy be Your name,” we are asking God to help us live in a way that professes Him as the one and only Lord of our lives.

In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone. Psalm 33:21–22

When we live to declare God holy, we are saying we trust Him and trusting Him gives us hope!

♥ Your Kingdom Come

I am so often overwhelmed in this earthly kingdom. I watch the news and scroll through social media and it’s upsetting. I watch friends and family suffer and my heart hurts. So much of this life is hard.

The words “Your kingdom come,” remind me that this is not my home. By God’s grace, through Jesus, you and I have hope for a forever future beyond the chaos, pain, and heartache. A forever future in God’s kingdom because Jesus defeated sin, death, and Satan through His life, death, and resurrection.

Jesus proved to the world that He is the Way to the Father and the Truth that gives Eternal Life.

For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:13–14

♥ And Your Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven

God’s will is always done in heaven and ultimately His will and purposes are also accomplished on earth.

Praying that God’s will be done on earth, is asking that He might use us in His plans and purposes. That you and I will be a part of His will being accomplished. We know His will is that we will love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love others as well. By His grace and with His help, that gives us His help and a hope for every relationship.

This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and He has commanded us to love one another. 2 John 1:5–6

♥ Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

I love this!

God invites us to come to Him with our daily needs, trusting that He will take care of today’s necessities and faithfully remembering that He is our hope for tomorrow.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7

♥ Forgive Us Our Sins as We Forgive Those Who Sin Against Us

You and I are able to forgive others because God faithfully forgives us.

When you and I humbly go to God asking Him for forgiveness … He will! And when I think about all that God has forgiven in me, well, I have His strength to forgive others.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31–32

Knowing that I’m forgiven and that God gives me all I need to forgive others – that gives me hope for all my relationship today and eternally!

♥ Lead Us Not Into Temptation but Deliver Us from Evil

God does not tempt us.

However, you and I live in a sinful world that is full of temptations and evil. By God’s grace, and with His help, you and I have everything we need to withstand temptation and evil today…

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13

With God’s help, we can turn our focus from this world’s temptations and ugliness and plant it squarely on the One who is able to give us the strength we need right now!

♥ For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory Forever

Many of us end the Lord’s prayer with this doxology of praise.

Our Father is powerful and sovereign. All glory belongs to Him forever and ever!

King David wrote:

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God! Psalm 42:5

♥ Amen

Amen says, “so be it” or “this is true!”

It is the ending to a prayer said in faith!

So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you. Mark 11:24 (NCV)

And that is praying with new hope, trusting that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.

When you and I pray the Lord’s Prayer our hope is renewed as we remember who God is. He is our Father, the sovereign God who loves and cares for us today and has a beautiful plan for our future.

So I pray the Lord’s Prayer when my heart and mind are discouraged … when I need new hope, I pray the prayer Jesus taught and I remember all the ways God has helped me in the past.

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