THE MODEL PRAYER

Our Father Who art in heaven….
Yes, You are in heaven, and You’re right here beside me.
Hallowed by thy name….
May I remember that, Lord, about Your name. It’s not a word we throw around to make us sound religious. It’s not a good-luck charm.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done….
Not my will, Lord, but Yours. You’re not a genie in a bottle. You’re the God of the universe Who somehow cares about me.
In earth, as it is in heaven….
It’s Your will I need to search for, long for, desire; not my own; from now until I reach my final home.
Give us this day our daily bread….
Just what we need for today, Lord. May we not worry about tomorrow–because tomorrow you’ll give it all over again.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors….
Why is this forgiveness thing so hard for us mortals? It must be a full-time job for You to keep forgiving us, but yet You gladly do it, over and over again.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil….
Lord, I know you don’t tempt us, but please keep us away from the areas where temptation comes more easily.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever….
And that’s a long time!
Amen….
So be it.