The Lord’s Prayer - Part One • Devotion 6: Summary of Reverence
Pastor John Carter
“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’” Matthew 6:8-10
As we conclude our week on Matthew 6:9-10, we are just going to reminisce about the awesome things Jesus taught us about prayer. Ultimately, I see Jesus pointing us back to the holy reverence that God deserves. From His holy name, His powerful Kingdom, His majestic will, to His mighty realm of authority, it all points to a God that is able. That is something worth getting excited about! That is something worth praising God about! Tomorrow is Sunday and the church is gathering together to worship God. We hope to see you there.
Today, I want you to rest on several things. You can rest in the fact that God knows where you are in life. He knows it all! He knows the things you are struggling with, and the desires or dreams you have yet to accomplish. Rest in the amazing, saving grace that God has given us through his Son, Jesus. Rest in His mercy. Revel in His person, character, power, and will. Take time today to just be with God.
Here are some verses to encourage you in this aspect of rest that God wants us to enjoy.
- “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
- “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:9-11
- “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:1-6
I hope you find the amazing rest of Jesus Christ in your life. I pray that as we continue to walk through the many aspects of prayer, you will always come back to the amazing place of rest we have in Jesus. Life is hectic for sure and there are always multiple distractions happening all around us. Taking the time to just be in awe of who God is, what He has done for you, and all of His goodness and mercies, is very much what this week’s study of prayer is all about. It is about God. It should always be about His character, Kingdom, desire, and purpose for us. Enjoy His amazing love and care for each and every one of us. Spend some time just thanking and worshiping God one-on-one! He loves His one-on-one time with His children. I hope you come away with a sense of awe and wonder. I pray you will see that God is ever present in your day as you grow even closer to Him.