Pray this way

"Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one." Matthew 6:9-13

     Have you ever struggled to find words for prayer? If so, consider this great prayer by Jesus. It is a prayer of holy boldness, appropriate for spiritual revolutionaries.

     In praying this famous and beloved prayer, you are hallowing the name of God while inviting God's reign on earth, as it is in heaven. You are volunteering to participate with God's will, beginning in your own life, neighborhood, city and nation.

     The prayer reminds us of the constant, ongoing concern of Jesus with hunger and starving people. As millions face the threat of starvation in Zimbabwe, this takes on new relevance. We must pray for not only ourselves, but also for the hungry in our neighborhood as well as for world hunger.

     Jesus even asks us to pray the humanely impossible. Without forgiveness, we have no future. We are not allowed to hold on to our anger, hurt and sense of injustice. We must forgive others who have wronged us. In God's reign on earth, forgiveness begets forgiveness. This amazing prayer also reminds us to pray for strength to endure temptations, while forgiving others their ethical and moral failings.

     Oftentimes hurry is the death of prayer. Famous prayers are sometimes uttered so hastily that we lose a sense of their remarkable power and significance. I invite you to experience this remarkable prayer by Jesus through a slow reading and rereading. Stop whenever a word or a phrase touches your heart however faintly. You do not have to understand the full significance of the scripture passage, just trust God is at work in your life at a deep level.

     As you prayerfully read this prayer, ask God for divine guidance. Be open to act in responsive action if that is called for. As you conclude today's mediation, rest in God's holy and loving presence, without judging yourself or others.

     In the days ahead, pray this prayer again and again, savoring these holy words for strength and wisdom as Zimbabwe struggles with her many problems. God will bless you with insight and knowledge. In praying it, you will become part of the solution to Zimbabwe's healing.

     Prayer: For the sake of Zimbabwe, God, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. Amen.

Written by Rev. Dr. Sandy Bochonok
http://soulfoodministry.org
September 23, 2002
Permission is given to freely distribute this reflection throughout Zimbabwe.