The Lord’s Prayer

Luke 11:1-4

I don’t know about other people, but I find it difficult to pray in public. It is just recently that I have been able to do so, but I feel uncomfortable and inept. Some people have the ability to pray beautiful prayers. They just soar to the heavens. My prayers are very homely. The prayers are sincere, but they have no poetic beauty to them.

However, I don’t know why I am concerned. Just listen to what Jesus tells His disciples when they ask Him to teach them to pray.

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive

everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.”

I don’t know of a prayer that is more simple, basic than that prayer. I do not understand something about it, however. The line “and lead us not into temptation” seems to me to indicate that God would lead us into temptation. I don’t see God’s doing that to us. I think we are tempted and make our own decisions…right or wrong.

I don’t think I am going to worry about prayer again. If Jesus can tell us to say such a simple prayer, I certainly am able enough to pray that prayer…and pay attention to what I am saying instead of mumbling it as we so frequently do.

When I am at home, I sing “The Lord’s Prayer”. There is no way to sing that prayer without paying attention to what I am singing; therefore it means more to me to pray in that manner.

Carol

Bible Breath: Jesus, please / Teach us to pray