May It Be SoSample

By teaching this prayer, I don’t think Jesus was telling his disciples (and therefore us) that these were the only words to use in prayer. I think he was providing a way to re-set our prayers, a tool that could help us dig through the noise and mess of life and get to the heart of the matter. So, let’s take a look at the first element or movement in the Lord’s Prayer: 

“Our Father in heaven . . .”

Something about the way Jesus prayed led the disciples to ask how they should pray. 

I have a feeling it wasn’t the words Jesus used or his physical posture. I think it was the way he lived his life and the power they saw in his ministry. 

For Jesus, prayer wasn’t a magical or even strategic combination of words and phrases that helped him tap into some Power Source so he could feel good and work effectively. Prayer was about connecting with his Father. It was deeply personal. 

In a world where it seems that every few seconds someone is selling you a new product, urging you how to self-actualize, or promoting a new system to help you maximize your life, Jesus leads us right to the most important point. It’s as if he’s saying, “It’s not about having the right words or the right product; it’s about knowing whose you are.” You are a child of the Living God, a beloved daughter or son. That’s who you are and that’s where your strength, hope, and inspiration come from, because you belong to God.