“After this manner therefore pray…” Matthew 6:9
Dear Ones:
There is a preface to the Lord’s teachings on prayer. It begins like this: “…Your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Matt. 6:8) Why does the Lord Jesus state this reality before embarking on teaching us how to pray? First of all, it is because we do not truly know the need at hand. Secondly, we do not know how God desires to meet that need, in answer to prayer. Paul wrote to the Romans: “The Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we do NOT know what we should pray for as we ought.” (Romans 8:26) He goes on to add, “…but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us…according to the will of God.” (v.27) What does this mean? It means that the ministry of the Spirit, using the word of God, is essential if we would know the will of God. John writes: “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us…and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we KNOW that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” (1 Jn.5:14,15) How important is it that we know the will of God when we pray? It is imperative. How is it known? By prayer, the Spirit, and the written word of God, God testifying to our hearts and spirits, that He hears us. But, what if after prayer and searching the scriptures, we are not sure about His will in a certain situation? We then enter the real world of the protocol of prayer, which brings us into conformity with the will of God, enabling us to have confidence, and full assurance of faith. What do we mean by this “protocol?”
The Lord Jesus begins this protocol by saying: “After this MANNER therefore pray…” The first thing that He reveals to us is the highest objective in prayer, that of “hallowing” the name of the Father. What does this mean? You will remember that Jesus lived wholly for His Father, did only that which He saw the Father do, and pleased Him by a life lived perfectly according to the Father’s will. Why did He do this? He did so because of the worth, greatness, total uniqueness of God His Father, Creator and Sustainer of all. The Father was Christ’s greatest treasure, and thus all His devotion was centered upon Him. The Lord Jesus teaches us to preface ALL prayer in this context and setting…that the Father will be glorified, His name lifted up and exalted, so that He be given the worship that He is worthy to receive. Regardless of the situation that we might face, we are to pray primarily that the name of the Father would always be hallowed, worshipped for What and Who He is…holy, and exalted above all else.
The second thing in this protocol, is praying for the reign of God to come in hearts and minds of all men. It is only as His authority is submitted to, that His blessing will be poured out.
The third thing is: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” There is but one good and perfect will, and it is that of God. In that will, eternal blessings are bestowed. “Blessings abound where’er He reigns: the prisoner leaps to lose his chains, The weary find eternal rest, and all the sons of want are blessed.”
Dear Father, blessed Father, enable us to pray in this manner, believing You to work in such a way that Your name will truly be reverenced and worshipped. Give us to bring in You kingdom, your reign in the hearts of men, by believing prayer, so that Your will shall be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad