Teach Us to PraySample

PROVIDE

The third part of the Lord’s Prayer teaches that we can trust our Father to PROVIDE for the things we need.

Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

God knows what we need even before we ask it. Just before he taught the disciples the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus said:

“Don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” (Matthew 6:7-8, NLT)

But Jesus also told the disciples to ask for their basic everyday physical needs like food and for their basic everyday spiritual needs like forgiveness. Nothing is too small or ordinary for prayer.

Make sure not to miss this crucial detail: Jesus teaches us to ask for the Father’s forgiveness just as we forgive those who sin against us. This is so important. It means that we can’t hold grudges against others and then also expect God to forgive us. We don’t deserve the Father’s forgiveness, so we shouldn’t expect others to “deserve” our forgiveness.

Forgiveness isn't just a one-way, God-to-us thing. Jesus said:

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15, NLT)

Forgiving someone isn’t the same as saying, “What you did was okay.” It simply means that you don’t hold something against the person anymore, that you release feelings of payback, and that you don’t keep score.

Forgiveness is beautiful. Ask your Father for his forgiveness each day (which means being willing to confess the things you need forgiven). And offer forgiveness to others each day (which means being willing to let go of hurt, pride, and self-importance).

REFLECTION

• What daily needs do you ask your Father to provide?
• Do you believe he cares about these things? Why?
• When is it hardest for you to forgive someone? Why?
• When is it hardest for you to ask for forgiveness from someone? Why?