Then Jesus relates this parable of the importance of persisting our knocking on the door of heaven with our prayers. Keep in mind, it is not for mammon (or things of this earth) that we strive for, but for things that cannot be destroyed by moth or rust. These include more love, more tolerance, more forgiveness, more compassion for others, a humble spirit, less arrogance, etc.

I had never really looked at Luke's version of our Lord's Prayer intently before. I love it! This week, let's spend time with the Lord's Prayer.

“Our Father Who is in heaven”

Our God, our father, implies everyone's God. Even those who don't believe, will stand before God at judgment. God resides in heaven. Although heaven is a place for the faithful to go after death, it has also been described as “within us” as in the statement, “The Kingdom of God is within.” We enter the gateway to effective prayer, in general, by closing our eyes to shut the world's appearances out. Once our focus changes from outside to within, we can, with God-encouraged persistent effort, find that God indeed DOES dwell within us as the Holy Spirit. The walls we've built up AGAINST that truth must be torn down, hence, the phrase "persistent effort" is appropriate even though it involves personal effort. Though personal effort to accomplish our own plans in this world is totally off-base, using our free will TOWARD God's goals is highly encouraged. (See the Parable of the Wicked Manager - beginning at Luke 16:1)

“Hallowed be thy name”

God's name is hallowed, respected, looked at with reverence and awe. Do we do this at all times or do we use His name in vain? Do we rely on Him fully, love Him above everything and everyone else, or do we pay some homage to Him, then go on with our lives as usual, hoping for the best? Understandably with the world's appearances so dominant around us, we are not likely, at first, to believe much in the Kingdom of God within and God's ability to transform our physical world, our mental world and our emotional world.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

God, I want to help You and align my will with Yours in this. I want Your kingdom to come, Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. I am not interested in puppeting what the world says is true. I want only what You say is true. How do I do this? Oh, Holy Spirit, take the reigns I so desperately try and hold onto. Help me give them to You so that I might be steered in fruitful ways and not be bound up in the world's ways, so circular, and believing in its futility, seemingly so never-ending. Show me more, God.

“Give us daily our bread”

Oh, Father, supply our every need. Our bread is not limited to food alone, but includes a sense of purpose as we feed others manna from heaven. Thank you, Father, for allowing me to share in the feeding of Your children the hope in things not seen and the courage to believe differently from the world's pessimistic point of view. Allow me to give that which I want to receive: Faith, hope, and love, no matter what the circumstances and under conditions NOT dependent upon immediate feedback from those suffocating under the world's heavy weight. They often are too distraught, too tired, and too depressed to respond gratefully. My reward, I know, is truly not of this world.

“And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us (or offended us in some way)”

Father, I know that this prayer, given to us by Your Son, Jesus Christ, has elements in it that are showing us Your way for Your way is higher than our way. We need to have Your way spelled out. We know that Your Son was not praying that You act a certain way, but He was telling us how You, God, work in the life You have given us. We know that as we forgive everyone who has offended us, You will forgive our sins, too. It is simply a law that You have set up and, as we adhere to it, we are blessed by having our burdens lifted, our paths cleared, our ways made sure and steady.

“And bring us not into temptation but rescue us from evil”

Oh, Father, we know that we are tempted mightily to respond to offense in a way that is not becoming to You. Help us, Oh God, to latch onto Your way which is so much higher than our way and Your thoughts so much more meaningful than ours. Our way, in this world, has gotten us no where. Your way delivers the promises You have made, that we can have an abundant and fruit-of-the-spirit filled life. This is what we want, Oh God. Rescue us from the evil, so apparent in this world, by giving us the desire to know You, in greater and greater ways and to trust You in ALL circumstances and conditions. This is what we want, with all of our hearts, as we seek first the kingdom of God. This is what we want as we knock and keep on knocking and as we seek and keep on seeking. I know, God, that You will not fail to answer our deepest prayers, as we hunger for You and strive to follow Your commandments to love (especially those who are difficult). We prove that we love You, Lord, by doing this. Amen.