Real Hope: Your Kingdom ComeSample

The Lord’s Prayer

When I first fell in love with my husband, I wanted to shout it from the mountain tops. I didn’t do that, but I certainly did let all my friends know I was in love. However, when I wanted that first love to grow, I accepted my love’s invitations to meet in a quiet corner of a café, or to walk along a sandy beach, just the two of us. We listened with love and openly talked about our past and our dreams, describing the things that made us laugh and those times that made us cry. None of this could be shared as a declaration of our love from a street corner. It was our story of coming together to become one. This depth of relationship takes time and intentionality in shared experiences and private conversations over a lifetime.

Jesus knew that the people praying on street corners and even those who prayed with arms raised in the churches were doing it for superficial motives. When Jesus was asked how to pray, He started by contrasting the hypocritical demonstration of prayer with hidden prayer. This new way of prayer is like a couple taking time to get to know each other to build a trusting, loving relationship. We know Jesus went away to quiet places to meet with God. The way of prayer to which Jesus invites us is simple and sacred.

Today, would you turn aside from declaring your love of God to others on whatever your street corner is? Instead, I invite you to sit with the one who loves you more than you can love yourself and know that you are seen with this love.

Written by KATH HENRY