Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.
Today’s readings come from Genesis 18-19 and Matthew 6. Do you suffer from mental drift when you read the bible? There are two things that my scattered brain has found helpful in locking into my own bible reading. First, it’s reading the bible out loud. Second, it’s listening to an audio bible. The ESV Bible App as well as the YouVersion Bible App both have this feature. If you haven’t read or listened to today’s passages yet, go do that now.
Okay, welcome back.
In Matthew 6, Jesus discussing three important religious practices:
- giving to the need (vv1-4)
- praying (vv5-15)
- fasting (vv16-18)
Jesus confronts hypocrites who do these practices with the insincere goal of being noticed by other people rather than a sincere faith that performs these practices for the audience of one: God.
I want to focus on Jesus’ teaching about prayer.
[5] “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. [6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
[7] “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. [8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
[9] Pray then like this:
The Lord’s Prayer that follows is Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. Our family regularly pray these exact words, and for the last 2000 years, Christians have prayed these specific words when they gather together.
However, this prayer is more than just a prayer to be repeated; it’s a prayer that gives us a framework of the types of things we should bring to God.
What follows is a prayer that I’ve written that expands on each line of The Lord’s Prayer.
Let’s pray together,
“Our Father in heaven,”
We thank you that we have been adopted into your family, and we are amazed by the privilege it is to call you “Dad”
“hallowed be your name.”
Your name is worthy of all praise and glory, and yet often we see your name used in vain and your existence ridiculed. So we pray that your name would be honoured and respected by all.
“Your kingdom come,”
We know you rule the heavens and the earth, and so we pray your rule would be known in our world. We think of individuals in our own lives who don’t live under your rule, may you use us to proclaim your kingdom and your rule, and may they submit themselves to you as Lord.
“your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
May your plans be accomplished in our time by your servants and for your glory.
“Give us this day our daily bread,”
We are dependent on you for life, and breath, and everything. Continue to provide us with physical food that nourishes our body, but also spiritual food that nourishes our soul.
“and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Thank you that through the death and resurrection of your son Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. Help us to keep trusting in our Saviour, and may we be a people who are quick to forgive others.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
We know of the snares of the Devil, and so ask that you would be our protector, may we know that Jesus has already defeated the Devil at the cross. And so please strengthen us by the power of your Holy Spirit to stand firm in the gospel.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.