Dear Ones:
It is so easy to pray the “Lord’s Prayer.” (Matt. 6:9-15) It is quite another thing to truly believe what we pray. For example, “…Give us THIS DAY our daily bread.” There is no doubt that the Lord is referring to physical food, for it is essential for our existence. But there is another “bread,” and it is that from heaven. We might call it heavenly manna, but it is spiritual food…it is the very word of God by the Spirit to our hearts. How much are we trusting God to SPEAK to our hearts through His word, according to our need, and this, on a daily basis?
Scripture declares to us that the JUST man is one who lives by faith. Faith is directional. It is based on truth, and has its foundation in the character, the faithfulness of God. This is why the apostle Paul writes: “…my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your FAITH should not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 Cor. 2:5) Essential to faith is the truth of God, of Christ. And faith in Christ according to that truth leads to the experience of His power. Is this not what Paul wanted to know, as he expressed it in Philippians 3:10, “…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection?”
So, what are we trusting the Lord for TODAY…and daily? Are we believing Him to not only give us that which our bodies need, but in the same and very real way, give us what our souls need to LIVE? Are we believing Him for His specific word of truth to our hearts, by which He would have us believe Him, and to thus KNOW Him, and the power of His resurrection? Christ gave to us this prayer to pray, and to pray in faith, believing, receiving, …to know Him.
One last thought…the Holy Spirit is the key to understanding the word of God, for He has been given to us to BE our teacher. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26) Have we made Him, or rather, deliberately taken Him to be what He is…our teacher?” John later writes in his first epistle: “…But the anointing which ye have received abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.” (1 Jn. 2:27) Is John saying that we are not to listen and learn from preachers of the gospel, and teachers of the Word? No. What he IS saying is that beyond all human instruments, there is One who is the Sovereign Teacher. He might speak through a brother or sister, or He may not. The issue is that we are to place ALL of our trust in Him, believe Him to teach us and to speak individually to us through the word of God. He alone can give to us OUR DAILY PORTION… and He will, if we trust Him.
Dear Lord, be our teacher this day, and give to us, not only our daily portion of physical food, but open up to us Thy word, that we may LIVE by what Thou dost reveal to us. Thou hast the words of eternal life. Enable us to hear Thy voice of truth, and strengthen our hearts to trust Thee according to that truth. Then we shall be satisfied, and our hearts shall rejoice, as we live for Thee. Amen.”
Love, Dad
P.S. Write down what He shows you. It always helpful in clarifying it in the mind, and confirming it to the heart.