FOCUS ON THE GOODNESS, GREATNESS, AND GLORY OF GOD
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
Matthew 6:9 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
The only place in the gospels where the disciples asked Jesus to teach them something was in reference to prayer. They never asked Jesus to teach them how to do miracles, how to teach, or how to walk on water. They asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.
I believe the reason they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray was because they realized after being with Him that His prayer life was the power source of everything He did. The teaching and miracles flowed out of His prayer life.
In response to their request Jesus gave them what we commonly refer to as “the Lord’s Prayer.” The opening line provides a good focus to get us started each day. The focus is not on us or our needs but on the goodness, greatness, and glory of God.
The prayer begins with “Our Father.” Our Father is a good, good God. He is not called our king, creator, or lord in the opening of the prayer—even though He is all those things. Jesus wanted us to focus on the goodness of God as a loving Father. This talks about our relationship with our Father God.
The second phrase is “in heaven.” Our Father is “in heaven.” This speaks of His greatness. He is not confined to the time and space of this planet. Our God is too great to be restricted to our frame of understanding. He is greater than anything we can imagine. He is beyond measuring.
The third phrase is “may your name be kept holy.” Another translation says, “hollowed be Thy name.” This speaks to the glory of our God. We should pause to remind ourselves He is beyond our comprehension in greatness and in glory. There is a power and force within our God that is beyond my ability to understand. I must reverence the person and power of my God.
When we start our prayer times focusing on the goodness, greatness, and glory of God it changes our perspective. It enlarges our expectation. It builds our faith.
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During this season of prayer and fasting take time before you present your request to focus on the goodness, greatness, and glory of God.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please help me to recognize Your goodness, greatness, and glory. Forgive me for thinking to little of You. Forgive me for casually coming into Your presence.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
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