When studying the Lord's prayer it's common to think about the character of God that's assumed in the prayer: i.e. Father, in heaven, holy, etc, etc.
What about the character of the one praying it?
Here are some thoughts:
- Childlike
- Reverent
- Expectant
- Guileless
- Obedient
- No agenda of our own
- Desperate
- Dependent for all things
- Confident of mercy
- Acknowledging sin
- Repentant
- Merciful
- Having a deep appreciation of grace
- A follower
- Hating sin and temptation
- At war with the evil one
- Sheltering in the Lord's deliverance
Three thoughts:
1) I want to be this person.
2) Jesus has made me this person (John 16:23-27) The Father regards me as this very person, clothed in my Advocate. I not only pray in and through Jesus but with Him.
3) As I pray, resting in the intercession of Jesus, I am increasingly living up to what I've already attained in Him.
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Lovely contemplation, Glen.
It is good to be reminded that believers in Christ are already sons, positionally speaking. That is an easy thing to forget when I'm still in the process of being transformed in time.
Thank God for the intercession of our heavenly Priest!
I always think of the Lord's Prayer as a prayer that teaches me to go against myself.
I would much rather have 'my will be done'.