Behind the "Lord's Prayer" Tee

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) reads like this...

"Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
 on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
 we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
  but deliver us from evil. "]

I'm sure you've heard this once or twice in your lifetime. Probably recited it a few times and maybe it's even hanging on some kind of frame at your grandmas house (or not). . Many people can recite it. I've heard it countless times, have recited it at funerals but did I REALLY understand it. It's important we understand the biblical meaning of this scripture

This was left as a guide to us. A guide as to HOW (not what) to pray. Each part meant to teach us something about who God is, prayer, and asking. You can read and meditate on this scripture and because God's word is true (Proverbs 30:5; John 17:17) and it is living (Hebrews 4:12) it will begin to speak to you for your life today. 

As I meditated through worship and His Word, I was drawn to re-read and an almost need to understand this scripture on a new level was growing inside of me. As I read and stopped and mediated, read and stopped and meditated, I was reading this with new perspective and a new personal reflection. 

"Our Father" just like my earthly father (I call him papi...still...yes I'm 30-ish) but just like I don't think twice to go to him, I can go to my heavenly Father. My loving, always present Father. With acknowledgement of who He is ("Hallowed be Your Name"), yes, loving, but also, Almighty and Holy. 

Then I came to "Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." There was a sudden desire to not just read it but to pray and speak that over me. What am I doing to bring God's Kingdom to this earth? Are my words, my actions, my decisions causing His Kingdom to be brought and felt. Am I making Him known? Am I intentionally making Him known? I, you, have the opportunity to bring some heaven to this earth. We have the power through Him to bring people to the knowledge of Christ. "Will" carries the same meaning as "Desire". Are God's desires, my desires? 

My prayer is that as we read this scripture, as we see this on our tee, that this be a constant reminder to let our lives be the evidence of His presence on earth. That as we pray and seek God's desires, His Kingdom will be made increasingly evident to an unbelieving world. 

-Ana