In Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. Here are verses 9-10 NIV, with comments. Verses 11-13 next month!
"Our Father in heaven." God is high above in heaven yet, for Christians, also close to us as Father. And he is "our" Father, together, so we should pray together as his children. We pray together at church and Bible study. What about when we meet for coffee or bump into each other in public? We chat, so why not pray?
"Hallowed be your name." That is, "may your name be honoured as holy." May God's name be recognised and honoured as holy, as it truly is. But do we honour God's name? Do we trust and obey God for his glory's sake? Let's pray, "Hallowed be your name," and let's live what we pray!
"Your kingdom come." We pray for God's rule over the universe to be fulfilled. God will ultimately defeat his enemies, and rescue his people from sin and death. We pray with confidence that God will do it, through Jesus Christ his Son.
"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." We pray for God's will to be accomplished as much here on earth as it is in his very presence in heaven. If we want that enough to pray for it, do we want it enough to live it? Let's learn his will, by reading the Bible. Let's do his will, by obeying him. Let's pray, "Your will be done," and also live what we pray!
Brothers and sisters, we suffer without prayer. We need our Father. Let's pray as we ought, and live as we pray.