Welcome to a new adventure. Throughout the summer, we’ll be
exploring a very familiar prayer in some, perhaps, unfamiliar ways. At the end,
we’ll have developed some new insights into the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer in
our life and worship. The prayer that we call “Lord’s Prayer” is Jesus’
response to his disciples’ request ‘teach us to pray’. It is found in Matthew
(6:9-13) and in Luke (11:2-4). We use it in nearly every worship service. Many
of us pray it as part of our daily devotions. Even many non-Christians know the
words.
Have you ever looked at the prayer phrase by phrase? What do the
words really mean to you? Can the prayer provide insights into your life? Do
the words open your heart?
These are some of the things we'll be considering over the next few weeks as we delve into this familiar, yet multi-faceted prayer.
Enter the Presence: The
first two words of the Prayer are an address to God: “Our Father”… To the
first century Jews, this would have been an almost shocking familiarity. The
Jewish people knew that the Holy One of Israel lived in the Temple in
Jerusalem, and was found in the Torah. Addressing the Creator of the Universe
as “Father” was inconceivable.
For some today, this opening phrase is just as difficult. In
recent years, there has been much written that the word ‘Father’ alienates
those who have perhaps been abused or who had a poor relationship with their
earthly father. It is a valid concern*. Remember the word ‘Father,’ in this
context, is just a way to describe relationship. It is not the only attribute
of God. Try not to get stuck on the gender of the word.
Stand In Awe:
Think of all the other names of God in the Bible. Genesis 21:33 calls God:
“Lord, the Everlasting God”. In Exodus 3:14, God says “I AM” is his name.
Gideon names God, “The Lord is Peace” (Judges 6:24). There are other terms,
phrases and names of God throughout the Bible. Take some time to research them.
What is the Name that you use most often when addressing
God? Is it Father, Lord, Savior, Friend, or something else?
Involve your Heart:
One way to experience prayer is to turn it into art by creating an image with
the words or using calligraphy to embellish it.
You might want to make a ZenTangle from it. Google ZenTangle and you'll find lots of words and images to inspire you. You could copy the image of ‘Pray’ from this blog as a starting point, and write the words of the prayer in and around the art.
Perhaps you enjoy the idea of ‘praying in color’. If so,
write “Our Father” in the center of a page. Be as fancy as you want with the
words. Around them write the names of people or events you want to lay before
God in prayer.
Perhaps you’ll want to continue the same activity all
summer, or try different formats each week.
This week focus on just the words
“Our Father”.
Next week, we’ll consider “heaven”.
*If the word ‘father’ bothers you, I would invite you to
think of God as the perfect Father you may not have had. Lisa TerKuerst of
Proverbs 31 Ministries has said that despite having a less than perfect father,
she imagines curling up in a chair with her heavenly Father and being held and
loved in the way she wishes she had been as a child. One of my own favorite
memories of my father was sitting on his lap in a giant green chair (well it
seemed giant to me as a child) as he read bedtime stories to me. I can still
feel the rough texture of the upholstery and the hint of cigarette smoke on his
breath. Even later understandings of his brokenness and hurtful actions cannot
erase that memory of the love of that evening ritual.
