LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 6:13, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”  Jesus

 

God wants to communicate with you – to listen and to talk to you.   When you pray and/or worship He is close by.  James 4:8 tells us, “When we draw near to God, He draws near to us.”  In Psalm 22:3, the Psalmist says, “God inhabits the praise of His people”.  Jesus taught that prayer should begin and end with praise.  Martin Lloyd-Jones states, “The Lord’s Prayer ends as it began.  We began with “hallowed be Your name” and we end with “Yours is the glory”.  We began with “Your kingdom come” and we end with “Yours is the kingdom.”  We began with Your will be done” and end with “Yours is the power”.  We began with “on earth as it is in heaven” and end with forever and ever”.  The last statement of the prayer focuses our heart and mind on the greatness and majesty of God.  If we fail to end here, we will be left with more of a sense of our problems than with hope of their solutions.  So, Jesus taught us a “psychology of prayer”.  Jesus taught the right place to begin – honoring the name of God - and the proper way to end – praising God for His sovereignty and glory.”

 

When this last verse of the Lord’s Prayer is looked at closely there some amazing truths spoken.  For example, God’s sovereignty is on display.  God is free and has the right to do anything He chooses to do.  He appointed and anointed His Son to be King of this world.  His son is the “King of kings and Lord of lords”; one day soon all knees will bow and every tongue confess this to be true.  The situation seen in the world today may seem chaotic and evil, but the Lord Jesus Christ is in complete control! Everything will happen at the appointed time.  It is important for each of us to grasp that as it will empower us to live our lives in a way that attracts others to the kingdom of God.

 

Matthew 6:13 shows God as all-powerful; nothing is too difficult for Him.  He knows absolutely everything that is happening in this world.  He knows everything that is being said and done in this country today.  He allows people to choose those things He is against, those things He hates; He does not force himself upon anyone.  Be careful what you choose.  Be sure you choose godliness or righteousness over unrighteous living.  God does not make mistakes!  I think we forget that.

 

Read Ephesians 3:20-21.  God’s throne is not empty.  He is there, seated, and can do whatever He determines to do.  He created the universe and everything in it by speaking a word.  He could speak a word today and correct every wrong in the world.  He is awesome and almighty and our prayer links us to Him.

 

When we pray “Yours is the glory” we remind ourselves that the One we pray to is the almighty God, the God of glory whose brilliance fills the earth.  1 John 1:5 reminds us that “God is light and in Him there is no darkness”.  Psalm 104:2 says this about God, “Who covers Yourself with light as a garment”.  Think what would happen if God turned His back on this world – all would be dark.

 

I am not sure what to write about the last thig Jesus says in the model prayer.  He talks about forever.  How do I explain forever or eternity?   It is as far back as I can think and further back than that.  How far into the future does it go?  I have to think that it just goes on and on and on – there will never be a time when it will not be.  That’s forever.  Forever seems pretty awesome.  It is a perfect way to end a prayer. 

 

Are you okay with God right now?  Think about this: everyday with God in eternity will be today.  God can be trusted; He is never in a bad mood.  In praying, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever” you are ready to go.  You do not have to worry about what’s going to happen today because God is in control.  You can get through every challenge you face and can trust in His provision because he never changes.

 

 

 

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