9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for not only giving us this remarkable prayer, but even more so, for making it possible for us to know God as Abba, Father. We dare call God “our Father,” only because of your finished work on our behalf. You were forsaken by God on the cross, that we could be adopted by him in life. We praise, bless, and adore you for being so great a Savior and giving us so awesome a salvation.
10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
O, how we long for the Day when the perfect, full, and glorious reign of God will come on earth—when the “old order” will be completely gone and all things will be wondrously and eternally new. Life in the new heaven and new earth will be far beyond anything we could ever hope or imagine, thanks to you, Jesus. As grace does its work in our hearts, increase our joy in obeying you, and doing the will of God to the glory of God, as we long for the Day.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
Until the kingdom fully comes, we look to you to meet all of our daily needs (spiritually, physically, emotionally), for you are glorified in our dependence and joyful in your generosity. Give us what we need, and an abundance to share with our neighbors.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Jesus, we know we don’t earn more forgiveness by being forgiving toward others, but how can we claim your forgiveness is we don’t work hard at forgiving others? Help us in our struggle to forgive as we’ve been forgiven.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Jesus, make us ever wise to the schemes of our enemy—the devil. He’s a defeated foe, but a far-from-being-eradicated foe. Protect us from him, but also rescue us from our perfectly forgiven but yet-to-be-perfected hearts. There is no sin to which we are immune, and yet (hallelujah), no sin beyond your power to redeem. So very Amen we pray, in your magnificent name and for the glory of our God.
