Timely Insights into God's Word from Khandielese Reyes

"THE LORD'S PRAYER"

“A PSALM OF DAVID”

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Ps 23) 

The above prayers are two of the most known, most recited, and most memorized in the church today.  Many pray these prayers daily upon rising and upon lying down, however most do not understand the depth of the words spoken and simply pray these prayers more so in a ritualistic manner as perhaps being part of his/her prayer time or part of a “church service”.  But, in order for there to be power in prayer, one must first understand what it is exactly they are praying, and then to have the faith to believe the words spoken through prayer was indeed heard by the Lord and answered.  When the disciples asked of the Lord “teach us to pray”, he replied by not identifying prayer with emotion, length, or eloquent speech, in fact just the opposite.  He told them “when you pray, say…” and gave them the words of which believers all over the world now recite regularly, as “The Lord’s Prayer” 

In this weeks message we will examine in depth both prayers in not just reading but in understanding, that they may no longer be just memorized words that are frequently and ritualistically recited by the believer, but that the power through each word spoken may be revealed and understood, and the Honor and Glory may be given to the one we lift our prayers up to…YAWEH, ABBA, Our Father. 

Starting with The Lord’s prayer, this is a most powerful one for it prays Father’s will.  It begins by declaring the Holiness of His Name.  “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name…” To “hallow” someone is to HONOR, to REVERENCE to SANCTIFY and CONSECRATE.   Thus, when we pray we must always remember who it is we are praying to, and speak his name with all reverence and honor declaring always his holiness.  I’m inclined to believe (judging by the behavior of most) that many tend to honor the name of man, MORE than they honor the Name of The Lord God.  If some of you were to have opportunity to be in the presence of a “well known” man/woman, or one who is noted to have great status in this world such as government officials or the president of the United States, you would speak to such a one with great respect, honoring his/her name, reverencing his/her great position.  You would be in awe just being in his/her presence. However, when it comes to The Father, for some there is no honor to his name, no reverence, no declaration of his power and glory, but simply a rushed through “memorized prayer” with the expectation that he would move instantly upon your command.  Therefore, before speaking the words of a request in prayer, HONOR and REVERENCE the one you are praying to.   

The next portion of “The Lord’s Prayer” reads: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”  Now, let’s look at this carefully as again, many pray this but have no spiritual understanding as to what it is they are truly asking.   Here in this passage when WE PRAY THIS, we ask: THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.  We are asking here for HIS will, not ours but HIS yet, when many pray this, their mouths are requesting HIS will, but their hearts are requesting HE would fulfill THEIR will.  If your desire is NOT that His will be done, do not pray this prayer for it is in a sense, dishonoring him for how can someone truly say “Thy will be done”, when his/her hearts intentions are desiring the Lord to do THEIR will! Also, in this passage of scripture we are asking the SAME would be done on the earth, as it is in Heaven, that in the same manner HIS WILL is fulfilled in Heaven, it would be fulfilled here in the earth.  Well, let us compare the two.  In heaven, there is OBEDIENCE to EVERY command, EVERY word spoken from Our Father!  There is no whining nor complaining from the angels, no temper tantrums are thrown but the angels of the Lord simply heed to the commandments of God without question or complaint. On the earth, this is NOT so but rather the opposite for many have turned a deaf ear to that which He has spoken and commanded through His Holy Word, and continue to murmur and complain over a command they do not like.  In heaven there is a great reverence and great love for the Lord God.  On the earth, this is NOT so although many speak of their love, their actions prove otherwise.  In heaven, the angels honor and glorify Him moment by moment with praise and worship simply because of WHO He is.  On the earth, this is NOT so as many can only muster up praise to him, when they themselves receive a blessing from him.  It’s as if this is the only time he is “deserving” of the praise.  He is given honor when gifts are received, rather than a continual HONOR and PRAISE as the angels in Heaven do, simply because of WHO He is and the fact that no matter what, He is ALWAYS worthy of it!  Therefore, knowing this, as we pray to The Father “Thy will be done…” Let it BEGIN in the hearts of every professing believer and KNOW what it is you are truly asking here so that WHEN His will is done, DON’T whine and complain against it! 

Now we will move on to the verse where many don’t seem to have much trouble with: “Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”  “GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD…..” here is the portion where many seem to focus on the most as if the entire prayer revolves around this particular passage.  The word “Give” is an instant eye catcher to most, for once again it indicates a search for what one can “get” from the Lord rather than what can be SURRENDERED to Him. It reveals the hearts intent.  Are the prayers prayed in reverence to Him and His Holiness, or are they prayed in hopes of receiving something from him?  And what of the following: “FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS”, many can ASK forgiveness from the Lord but they themselves are unable to forgive others.  However, the prayer is “forgive us our debts AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS”.  This seems to be something done simultaneously.  While the Lord is forgiving our sins, we are forgiving those who’ve sinned against us.  If any one is not able to forgive another, such cannot expect their sins to be forgiven by the Lord and such cannot expect to receive an answer to any prayer prayed unto the Lord.  Withholding forgiveness of another, and harboring bitterness in the heart will only hinder one’s prayer.  Thus, if you are a person filled with anger in your heart and have been waiting for an answer to a particular prayer and have received none, it may be wise to first have your heart swept clean of the debris of this sin, confess it before the Lord, repent and seek forgiveness, and FORGIVE the one who has wronged you.  The Lord will NOT bless the sinner who has NOT sought to repent! 

And finally we move to the end of this prayer: “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”  This is a blessed reminder that the Lord tempts no one, but will always provide a way of escape when anyone is tempted to sin.  It will be the choice of the individual to surrender to HIS plan and allow HIM to deliver them from temptation, and if his way is declined, that individual will succumb to the temptation and allow sin to enter in.  It is his/her choice as temptations will come, but the way of escape is ALWAYS available as.   

Next, we move on to the second most recited prayer in the church today, “A Psalm of David”, Psalms 23.  Here is a prayer that overflows with confidence and this confidence is ONLY because of FAITH in The Shepherd.  Throughout the prayer David speaks of the blessings of being a “sheep” who has no fear, who’s not wandering aimlessly, and who has no need to run and cower from the wolves, but can stand confidently behind His Shepherd being made aware that he’s completely covered, safe, protected and loved because of the trust he has placed in the Lord.   This prayer MUST be prayed with confidence and faith, otherwise it is ineffective and becomes to the one who speaks it, simply memorized words to recite whenever desired. 

David begins this psalm by declaring the Lord’s authority and leadership in his life: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”.  One who is a shepherd, is one who keeps watch over the sheep.  Such a one provides for the sheep in feeding, nurturing, leading, and keeping them away from danger.  The sheep knows the voice of the shepherd and place it’s complete trust in him.  JESUS is the shepherd and we are the sheep.  When we say “The Lord is MY shepherd, I shall not want”, we are in essence saying He has complete authority, complete control, complete leadership of our lives and because we have placed our trust in him (knowing His voice), we want for nothing as he provides for everything.  Remember that it is the shepherd who leads and if the Lord is not being allowed to TRULY LEAD, if you are dictating to him the direction to go and path to trudge upon, then you cannot with confidence profess him to be YOUR shepherd.   

“ He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”  Again, this declares his leadership and authority over the sheep’s life as the sheep places it’s complete trust in Him.  The nature of sheep without a shepherd is that of fear, thus he must feel totally secure in order to even peacefully lie down to rest.  When pastures are green and waters are still, this indicates a place of calmness, a place of peace and ONLY the shepherd knows and can PROVIDE the way.   If the sheep seeks for the place on it’s own, it will began wandering and become lost and will be open to danger for it no longer has the shepherd for protection.  HE leads, HE makes, HE restores as we surrender  and put our faith and trust in HIM.     

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” It was never intended the sheep to wander aimlessly in the valley but to walk THROUGH the valley.  However, a sheep will wander if it has no shepherd!  Without the shepherd it has no direction, knows not the way, so will wander helplessly around in the valley seeking a way out but finding none.  But, with the shepherd to lead, it will safely make it THROUGH and will walk through the valley without any fear at all.  When we put our faith and trust completely in the Lord, it doesn’t matter what distressing situations that may arise while we are in the valley, for we can trust that HE KNOWS THE WAY THROUGH and as long as He’s leading, we will make it to the mountain top. When we pray: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” we are noting here that we are aware as we walk THROUGH this valley there will be struggles, there will be trials, there will be tribulations.  Thus, we should not be surprised nor dismayed when we come up against such, but may our confidence and trust REMAIN in him, knowing that HE is with us every step of the way and being the LEADER, HE knows the direction to go and will not give us cause to stumble, but will give us the ability to get through and overcome every obstacle.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”  While your enemies mock and scorn you for your faith saying: “where is your God”?  In their very presence, that the eyes of those that hate you, speak evil of you, and seek to do you harm, may SEE and be witness unto the POWER of Almighty God, The Lord will pour out his blessings upon you in such great abundance you would hardly have room to contain.  There will be an overflow. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”  Goodness and mercy shall follow the one…….whose shepherd IS the Lord!  The one who follows The Shepherd, will for the rest of his/her days have mercy and goodness chasing after him/her. And such will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, and ever….AMEN

I love you all so very much. Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember: Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!

May the peace of the Lord be with you today and always…….

Khandielese
Daughter & Servant
   of the Lord God