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The Lord's Prayer—A Perfect Model

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The Lord's Prayer—A Perfect Model The Lord’s Prayer—A Perfect Model "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, NIV). Introduction: In Matthew 6:9–13, our Lord Jesus Christ gave His disciples (and us) a perfect prayer model. For, just as the Ten Commandments are the rule of our life, and the sum of our faith, so the Lord's Prayer is meant to be the pattern of our prayer: “Pray then like this . .” (Matthew 6:9a). In other words, Christ has established the rule and model upon which our prayers should be framed. However, this does not mean we are to be tied to the exact words of the Lord's Prayer. Rather, Christ was basically saying, "This, then, is how you should pray." As much as possible, all of our petitions should therefore be in agreement and harmony with whatever He expressed in the Lord's Prayer. With that in mind, author-pastor Dr. John S. Barnett suggests that Christ's perfect prayer model be divided into these daily prayer themes: 1 Sunday: Prayers of Worship – Matthew 6:9b Monday: Prayers for Ministry – Matthew 6:10 Tuesday: Prayers for Family Needs – Matthew 6:11 Wednesday: Prayers for Forgiveness & Reconciliation – Matthew 6:12 Thursday: Prayers for Victory – Matthew 6:13a Friday: Prayers of Reflection – Matthew 6:13b Saturday: Prayers of Praise and Preparation for Sunday – Matthew 6:13c In A. W. Tozer's beloved classic called The Pursuit of God is a Study Guide with this excellent suggestion: "Why not try relating God's Word back to Him when you pray? Often referred to as 'praying the Scriptures,' this is a good discipline that helps us focus on God. It allows God to speak to us. You may not want to pray this way all the time, but see if it doesn't bring a deeper sense of intimacy into your prayer life. [For then] your focus will turn from a 'prayer list'—gazing at needs— to the Supplier—gazing at God." 2 To help you establish a pattern for systematic Word-filled praying, this daily prayer journal was based upon the Lord's Prayer plus related Scriptures to pray back to the Lord. (Since it is God's will in Christ that His children “pray continually," as the Holy Spirit leads, other prayers should also be offered throughout each day.) In addition, to help you "Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19, NIV), seven beautiful hymns were included. As a result, through Word-filled prayers plus worshipful singing you will be blessed with some of the sweetest times possible with the Lord Jesus Christ! (Note: To access each of the seven recordings, press Control plus click on its title's link.) 1 Portions of the Lord's Prayer themes are from Dr. Barnett's The Joy of a Word Filled Family (Appendix B, pp. 380– 394.) Used by permission. That excellent book plus his Word Filled Families Walk in Truth (Dec 1, 2009, Mullerhaus Publishing) are available through Amazon.com in a variety of formats. 2 The Pursuit of God with Study Guide (Camp Hill, PA: Wing Spread Publishers, © 2006, pp. 139, 140). 1 Sunday: Prayers of Worship “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9b, NKJV). God is everywhere, watching, superintending, overseeing, governing everything in the highest interest of man, and carrying forward His plans and executing His purposes in creation and redemption. He is not an absentee God. The wonders of God’s power are to be kept alive, made real and present, and repeated only by prayer.3 What better way to prepare for the Lord’s Day services than to fill our heart and mind beforehand with prayers of worship! For, if there is no worship, there is no change in the life. What is worship?4 Worship is the submission of all our nature to God: quickening of our conscience by His holiness—being renewed through the life and power of our endless lives in Christ; nourishment of mind by His truth; purification of imagination by His beauty; openness of our hearts by His love; submission of our wills to His purpose. All of this gathered together in adoration is the greatest of all expressions of which we are capable. One clear way our Father in heaven invites our worship is by revealing Himself through His divine names and titles in His Word. And, one of the greatest insights into adoring the Lord Jesus Christ is in Revelation—a twenty-two chapter gold mine of real treasures as the LORD unveils Christ's deity through more than sixty-seven names and titles. For, "All things have been handed over to [Jesus] by [his] Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father . [who] so loved the world, that he gave his only Son . in order that the world might be saved through him" (Matthew 11:27a; John 3:16a, 17b, ESV). So then, let us now focus on worshiping our awesome Father God through heartfelt praises for our Lord Jesus Christ and His majestic names and titles in Chapters 1–22 of Revelation: Chapter 1: He is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, ruler over the kings of the earth, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Almighty, the First and the Last, the Son of Man, the living One! Chapter 2: He is the administrator of the church who has the sharp two-edged sword, eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like fine brass! 3 E. M. Bounds' A Treasury of Prayer (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1961), pp. 190–191, as cited in Dr. John S. Barnett's Appendix B of The Joy of a Word Filled Family (Mullerhaus Publishing, Tulsa, OK, © 2004). Used by permission. 4 This initial introduction to worship plus the "Today's Living Hope Summary Prayer" at the end of each day's theme are from Dr. Barnett's Living Hope for the End of Days (Tulsa, OK, Discover the Book Ministries, © 2007; Foreword by John MacArthur). Used by permission. This extremely encouraging book of 365 daily devotions on Revelation is rated "5 stars" at Amazon.com and is available in Paperback, Unlimited Kindle, and other formats. 2 Chapter 3: He is the One who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, who is holy and true, who has the key of David, who is the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God! Chapter 4: He is the One who sits on the throne in heaven! Chapter 5: He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, and the Lamb who was slain— who lives forever and ever! Chapter 6: He is the wrathful Lamb! Chapter 7: He is the redeeming Lamb and the providing Lamb! Chapter 8: He is the patient collector of our prayers! Chapter 9: He is the One who holds back the monsters from the abyss! Chapter 10: He is the Creator of heaven and earth and sea! Chapter 11: He is Christ, the Lord God Almighty! Chapter 12: He is the Christ, the Lamb, Jesus! Chapter 13: He is the Lamb, whose is the Book of Life! Chapter 14: He is the Lamb on Mount Zion, Jesus, the Lord, the Son of Man! Chapter 15: He is again the Lamb, the Lord God Almighty, the King of saints, the Lord! Chapter 16: He is the One who was and is and is to be, the Lord God Almighty! Chapter 17: He is Jesus, the Lamb—Lord of lords and King of kings! Chapter 18: He is the Lord God! Chapter 19: He is the Lord our God, the Lord God, the Lamb, Jesus, the Faithful and True, the Word of God, Almighty God, King of kings and Lord of lords! Chapter 20: He is Jesus, the Christ! Chapter 21: He is the Alpha and Omega, the Lamb, the Lord God Almighty! Chapter 22: He is the Lamb, the Lord God, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, Jesus, the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star, the Lord Jesus—our Lord Jesus! What a joy and privilege it is to worship our great God! 3 • "The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" (Psalms 18:46, 29:2, NKJV). • "LORD, [my] Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. LORD, [my] Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8:1, 3–5, 9, NIV). 5 • "Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God" (Psalm 90:1–2, NIV). • "O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions— May the glory of the LORD endure forever; May the LORD rejoice in His works" (Psalm 104:24, 31, NKJV).
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