I just got home from Singapore on Saturday night. My body still hates me for the torment of 11 time zones. But... being up at 4:40 this morning, the only other soul awake at this hour is God.
In some form or another, I try to pray the Lord's Prayer every morning. I modernize the language a little and speak slowly - to make sure I pay attention to what I am saying. In no way do I ever want my prayers to be mindless droning before the Creator of the Universe. (distant second is when I pledge allegiance to the US flag and my mind is wandering toward lunch - awkward).
The parts in the prayer about "Thy will be done" are pretty easy to say with emphasis. I mean, yeah, of course that's the goal. I realize that turning over my s***storm of a life to an omniscient God is a pretty good idea. And also the part about "daily bread" - uh huh uh huh, I want that too. "Lead me not into temptation" - please. I don't need any more of that.
The part that has been made new to me as of late is the closing statement. I have always treated it as I do the closing remarks of a letter. Sincerely. Yours Truly. Affectionately Yours. KIT. xoxo. Meaning that I ignored it. But wow, if I pray those last 3 descriptive nouns with a higher level of intentionality, my mind is blown. CS Lewis said it pretty well:
Yours is the Kingdom - meaning that it was God who established reign before the prince of darkness, and He will reign supreme through eternity
Yours is the Power - anything that God calls me to accomplish must be done by His strength
Yours is the Glory - because ultimately, in living in His Kingdom and acting by His Power are for His directives to be proclaimed. His Word. His Name. His Will.
O satisfy us in the morning with Your loving kindness,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)
In some form or another, I try to pray the Lord's Prayer every morning. I modernize the language a little and speak slowly - to make sure I pay attention to what I am saying. In no way do I ever want my prayers to be mindless droning before the Creator of the Universe. (distant second is when I pledge allegiance to the US flag and my mind is wandering toward lunch - awkward).
The parts in the prayer about "Thy will be done" are pretty easy to say with emphasis. I mean, yeah, of course that's the goal. I realize that turning over my s***storm of a life to an omniscient God is a pretty good idea. And also the part about "daily bread" - uh huh uh huh, I want that too. "Lead me not into temptation" - please. I don't need any more of that.
The part that has been made new to me as of late is the closing statement. I have always treated it as I do the closing remarks of a letter. Sincerely. Yours Truly. Affectionately Yours. KIT. xoxo. Meaning that I ignored it. But wow, if I pray those last 3 descriptive nouns with a higher level of intentionality, my mind is blown. CS Lewis said it pretty well:
"I don't pray to change God. I pray to God because it changes me."
Yours is the Kingdom - meaning that it was God who established reign before the prince of darkness, and He will reign supreme through eternity
Yours is the Power - anything that God calls me to accomplish must be done by His strength
Yours is the Glory - because ultimately, in living in His Kingdom and acting by His Power are for His directives to be proclaimed. His Word. His Name. His Will.
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