The Reminder

One of the most convenient advances in technology for me has been GPS (Global Positioning System). I love typing in addresses into the Garmin in my jeep and pressing Go. It is a modern wonder that saves stress related acts like asking folks for directions, pulling over to read maps and helps me avoid traffic jams. The most rewarding benefit is should I make an error and fail to heed the directions, it cautions me and then announces it will recalculate my route so I can get where I need to go from where I am. It gives me a set point for travel. Jesus closes the model prayer with a set point for us to refer to as a reminder about the route, we are on and the direction we need to take.

I have come all the way through the Lord’s Prayer and its petitions, but I love that it closes with a proclamation. “For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory Forever. Amen!” When Jesus instructed the disciples to pray, He instructed them in a progressive process that would aid them and us in praying more effectively. Jesus’ model prayer gets to the heart of all our needs. It helps us align our hearts and minds to pursue the heart and mind of God. It starts with us addressing God, our Father, who is in Heaven, which leads us to understand that though we dwell here on earth we have access to the highest of realms. It then reinforces that God has a Holy name and speaking with Him is not a conversation with an equal but to one with a name above every other name. We move on to request that God’s divine and perfect will be made plain to us and carried out by us expediently and obediently. These first three points of prayer start at the top and then work their way toward us in what I like to refer to as the daily.

Jesus’ words then lead us to acknowledge our dependence on God for our very existence, reminding us of the value of one day. It is followed by confessing our need for sustenance and our even greater need. Forgiveness itself. We are called to ask for this grace gift to be made manifest in our lives by forgiving others as we make our way through this life surrounded by the temptations that call to our selfish wants rather than all that God has designed for us. 

Because Christ loves us so deeply, His desire for us is to be equipped to have victory in our walk with Him and that we travel fearlessly along the route. We are reminded that we have a need for deliverance from enemies that seek to harm us.

After making our way through this prayerful process, we close with the confession that serves to drive home to our very hearts and minds that God is in control of everything. I don’t know about you, but praying truthfully from the heart, using the Lords’ Prayer as a guide can cause some inner turmoil and struggle. The statement that all the kingdom, power and glory belong to God is a good way for me to recalculate my heart should I get lost along the path of prayer. I wish I could say that I always held my heavenly Father in the highest esteem, but I haven’t. Oh in my thinking I have. But living it out is another matter. Sometimes my sinful pride or my disregard for His Holiness and my lack of gratitude for all He has done demonstrate my priorities and my wrong thinking about who is who. I am guilty for being too casual about His name and all that it implies about His character further drawing me away from a desire for His plan and will. I struggle with waiting on God to move or answer. Often I am not interested in “This day” but “ That Day” when He is going to intervene on my behalf. I also struggle with being satisfied with what I have been given and try to cloak my demand in some spiritual fashion where it might be more acceptable to Him. Even though I ask for forgiveness, I struggle with half-hearted repentance at times, and I certainly have conflict in my prayer closet over forgiving others. Sometimes so much, I lean toward crying for revenge more than reconciliation. I fail to heed Christ’ warning about praying over temptation and all to quickly dismiss the power that evil can unleash in my life if I fail to stay close to God and try and make it on my own without staying under His protection.

The gift at the end of the prayer is the reassurance. I can rest, even through my failings, shortcomings, and all the chaos that surrounds me. The Kingdom of heaven is His alone and it’s coming. No power on earth can hinder His sovereign reign. There isn’t another name given under heaven that can save man. The Power of God though evil forces work against it continually, cannot nor will not be stopped or limited. In my own life and communion with Him, His power is able to transform me from what I am to what to all I can be in Him. He can change my unforgiving hard bitter heart to a soft pliant one that desires His Holiness and can fill it with thankfulness. When I consider like the Psalmist, all His magnificence and power, I can capture a glimpse of His glory. Creation, sunsets, new life, peace in conflict, comfort even in death. The biblical definition of Glory is this: good reputation, Fame, honor. worthy as a result of the greatest achievements, splendor and radiant beauty.

Isaiah the prophet said this is chapter 40:5, “The Glory of the Lord will be revealed, and ALL people will see it. The LORD himself has promised this.” (Good News Trans)

I have seen it, even in my prayer closet. My conviction is this. The perfect prayer instructed me, the imperfect to pray more powerfully. Jesus gave me the words of the model prayer to commune, to ask, to confess, to relate, to overcome and to lay hold of a vision of what is to come. Christ did not give it as a lawful measuring stick to condemn my sinfulness but rather as a way to remind me even if I lose my way along the path of life. His all sufficient Grace is able to reach me. Jesus closes the prayer with a proclamation. As I pray, For thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory forever, I can leave my prayer closet confident in the direction I am headed, despite all the detours, obstacles and delays along the way. Jesus is able to recalculate my route. He has given me an eternal set point, a reminder that it can be well with my soul, no matter what. Amen.

I hope you have enjoyed the series, Lessons from the Closet. Next time I will do a small excerpt from the project Erin and I did at Christmas titled “Let Heaven and Nature Sing” as a peek for a second printing that is coming available for purchase. So many folks have asked for a copy so if you are interested we have made a way for you to get it. 

After this we will continue in the vineyard with a new series, “Even Though.” It is a focus on finding joy and thankfulness and overcoming the struggle of losing hope. Be encouraged, God’s word is the way through for us all.