Wednesday January 15, 2025

Today is Wednesday, January 15, and we begin the year of 2025 with a study on the Practice of Prayer. This week we explore what it means to talk to God and how Jesus taught us to pray with the words of The Lord’s Prayer.

At the dawn of a new day and the beginning of a new year, I seek God’s presence – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I find a quiet space amid a busy day. I pause and become still, calm my thoughts, silence my mind, and breathe deeply and slowly. Lord Jesus, as the disciples once asked you to teach them to pray, I also ask you to teach me to pray. Instruct me in Your school of prayer and strengthen this practice in my life. Teach me to talk, speak, listen and respond. Amen.

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

We are spending a week with Jesus in the school of prayer. In the Gospels, Jesus taught His disciples to pray in a particular manner. Jesus said to pray to God our Father in this way, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” To pray as Jesus taught us to pray is to place ourselves smack in the center of God’s will. There is no more important dimension of prayer than this. We pray for God’s will to be done.

When we pray, “Thy will be done,” we are placing God’s will over our own will, trusting that He knows best for us. When we pray, “Thy will be done,” it indicates that we believe God knows what is best for the whole world and we are inviting His will to dominate over the free will that runs rampant over the earth. We focus ourselves upon the will of God being realized on earth. We affirm His will and then His will becomes our will.

Additionally, we offer ourselves to be a part of His will being realized. We are effectively volunteering our time, gifts and talents to participate in the coming of God’s will on earth. We become workers for God so that His good will can be realized in our lives and in the lives of the people around us.

Consider all the groups of people you are a part of – the members of your family, your coworkers at the office, the members of your church, your Sunday School class, Youth group or choir, maybe the neighborhood garden club, a fitness class, book club or social group. Whatever those groups are for you, consider what it might mean for you to pray “Thy will be done” for each group and each individual person. How might regularly praying for God’s will to be realized impact your role in these relationships?

Prayer Prompts:

• Pray for God’s will to be done in your life today.
• Pray for God’s will to be accomplished in the lives of the people with whom you will interact today.
• Pray for God’s will to be realized in your community, state, nation and world.

Pause and Pray

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 NLT)

Resources utilized: The Workbook of Living Prayer, Maxie Dunnam, Upper Room Books, Nashville, TN, 1994, p. 63-88.

Printer Friendly Version

Sign up to receive The First 15 in your email