My reading today was the first 4 verses of Luke 11 which is Jesus answering one of the disciples’ questions about how to pray. Luke’s recollection of this moment is a little brief compared to Matthew’s.
The reason I have titled this QTVOTD the way I have is because I kind of got into it with my oldest daughter tonight. She is not in the best form right now and I don’t think anyone would disagree but nothing she could do or poor treatment she could throw my way, could remove any of the responsibility I have to honor the Lord in my response and character with her. I was raised in a generation where respect was something that was prevalent, and we were taught to treat others a certain way. This started with being responsible for your actions and behavior. When I interpret behavior coming from my daughter as disrespect, I get “triggered” (to use one of her words). So, when I look at the ‘triggering’…what the source of that triggering is; it is a deep-seated set of rights I feel for the way I should be treated and respected.
When I look at the Lord’s prayer today it becomes clear Who my focus should be on in fear of disappointing should be…
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Luke 11:2-4 [ESV]
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
“Father, hallowed be YOUR name” — Not Ben’s name.
“Your Kingdom come” — My thoughts should not be on a yearning to receive more respect from my daughter here on earth but an anticipation of the coming of the Lord’s rule over everything…including my life…which can start now.
“Give us each day our daily bread” — As a sinner and worthy of the wrath my sin deserves, bread is an awesome provision for someone who deserves death…but no, God in His Mercy sent my Savior to rescue me from that certainty.
“and forgive us our sins,” — This should be a prayer I am praying every 5 minutes.
“for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” — Dog gone it!! Every part of this prayer is touching on very raw nerves…too soon Lord!
“and lead us not into temptation” — James 1:13 tells us that God does not tempt us, in that, I recognize my weakness and the ease with which I give way to the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. So, I have to pray to be delivered from them all and being responsible for my actions when I see the temptation to burst out in anger coming, I must lean into the strength of God to resist…and forgive.