Reading your Bible for Today 25

September 25: Matthew 6:9-13

KJV Key Verse: Matthew 6:9
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Devotion:
My grandmother used to teach me this, the Lord's prayer, when I was young. But I never got to fully understand the prayer until I got to know Christ as a true Christian. It was then that I realise just what a wonderful prayer it is and how it should make us happy! We, as Christians, should always have something (or more exactly, someone) to celebrate!

Our first step in our prayer is to remember just who we are speaking to. God is the one true God that is in heaven. We have to make sure we remember this too as these words say and keep his name holy. Using “Oh my God” as an exclamation or some of His other names as swear words is just like slapping Him in the face! This prayer is our reminder and our promise that we are going to try hard to keep His name holy and not lower it to “gutter” level!

Remembering that He is indeed in heaven just as He has told us and waiting there just as He has promised us is a great comfort to us – but we do need to make sure we remember that too! Remembering it is through Him we get our daily provisions, both physical and spiritual reminds us He is our Saviour and provider. When we say this prayer to Him, it shows Him we do know He is all-powerful and that we need Him every day. (There is nothing more encouraging to us than others telling us we are needed!)

Christ alone has the power to forgive us of our sins. He willingly paid for our sins on that cross almost 2000 years ago. He, by that action, promised us He is willing to forgive us – all we need to do is ask for forgiveness! His promise to never corrupt us has always been kept, but we need His help every day to stay clear of evil temptations in our lives – because, once again, He is the only one who can save! And the best part... He has promised this all to us and He continues to deliver every day!

Points to Ponder:
Do you like it when people forgive you for doing something wrong?

When was the last time you asked God to forgive you?