The disciples asked Jesus a lot of questions. One of the questions Jesus responded to and answered was their question, “how should we pray?” His provocative, subversive, transformational answer, known as The Lord’s Prayer, is recorded in Matthew 6:9-13. Read Jesus’ prayer slowly. Think about each phrase. Ask the Spirit to bring things to the surface that He wants you to focus on.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
Maybe the most subversive phrase in the prayer is, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” As God’s people, we are called to pray and participate in God’s renewal of his good creation. Take some time today and pray through different spheres of society (using the picture below) asking God to bring about renewal and asking what your part may be.
By Ryan Paulson
