The “Our Father,” or The Lord’s Prayer, is possibly one of the most well-known and common prayers Christians learn. It is used in one form or another across the Roman Catholic, Universal catholic and Protestant faiths. It is often the first prayer a child memorizes. It’s used to pray “penance” after confession.
Sometimes I begin to pray it by rote, and then catch myself and start over, because I know it so well I’m not paying attention to the words! Rote reciting of the precious prayer that Jesus taught us would be an injustice. This little powerhouse can be much more than something we just spit out without thinking.
When I don’t know how to begin my conversation with God, The Lord’s Prayer is there to jump-start my spiritual engine, and a starting point for further contemplation.
It is a touchstone when I am overwhelmed with my burdens, and don’t know where to begin with God.
It is a return to the familiar when I’ve been away from Him too long and our conversation is stale.
It is a meditation to settle my heart for deeper time with Him.
It is a recitation of intention: “here I am, God.”
It is where I can go for comfort, for familiar love, those words written on my heart from earliest memories of my faith practice.
Don’t know what to say? Or where to start? The very best place might be in the very prayer that Jesus Himself gave us and taught us to pray: “Our Father…” Go to Him. Say it now. He is listening for you.
Reflection by Jane Emrick
Thank you for sharing. Very inspiring. " The Lord's Prayer is there to jump-start my spiritual engine and a starting point for further contemplation". The Lord's Prayer helps me to establish my relationship with God too.
ReplyDeleteGod bless!
Waiki