Monthly devotion
June 2007


The Scripture:

Matthew 6:9-15

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Our thoughts:

In this passage, Jesus was trying to teach us how to pray. In reading the passage I have found two main points that I would like to bring out. The first being that we are to pray for God's will to be done. I am just as guilty as anyone else and probably more so than many of praying for what I want and believe is best, not for God's will. All to often we pray, "Lord give me this or give me that." We pray for things we want but we forget to pray for the things that are really important. We forget to pray for others. We pray with a worldly attitude and not a spiritual one. We pray for the things of this world. We ask for money, popularity, and material things, when we should be praying for the will of god to be done in our lives. We should be asking God to help us to show others his love. To help us to forgive others the same way he forgives each of us for all of the wrong we have done and still so often continue to do. The second point I would like to bring out is the final two lines of scripture. We all to often ask God to forgive us but we in return can't seem to forgive others. I know all to well that sometimes it is hard to forgive others. Sometimes the things that they have said or done is just so hurt full. We try to justify our decision to not forgive by saying that they don't deserve it. Let me ask you this, Do we really deserve God's forgiveness? Remember that God loves us and forgives us and we must do the same for others. We must love and forgive also!

Our prayer for you:

Dear Lord, As we come to you today, it is our prayer that you will help us to keep your love in our hearts. Please help us to love and to forgive others. Help us to remember that we do not deserve you love. Help us to realize where we come from. Help us to understand that no one person is any better than anyone else. Whether we are a minister, Doctor, Lawyer, beggar, drunk, or drug addict, it doesn't matter. You love each and every one of us the same. Help us to realize that your forgiveness is for each of us. Please Lord help us to take the same approach to others. Lord let us love and forgive oneanother the same way you have chosen to forgive us. Lord it is our prayer that your will will be done in each and every one of our lives. May we be show others your love in us. May we love and forgive others as you have loved and forgiven us. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.



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