And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people

Revelation 5:8 (NLT)

Amen

You have made it! Thank you for joining us on our 3 week journey learning or relearning to speak with "OUR FATHER...". You have arrived at our final reflection, and along the way we have been blessed by various contributors sharing and unpacking the incredible ways that we can connect with God. We’ve learned that prayer isn’t simply closing your eyes and talking at God but pausing and talk with God.

The way we start prayer has some variation but how we end prayer I would venture to guess is the same for all of us; Amen. The word ‘Amen’ - literally meaning, ‘Yes! I agree! So be it!’. This word finds it's origins in is a word of Biblical Hebrew and often left untranslated in Old Testament English Bible the same is true of the Greek in the New Testament.

In the book of Revelation, John sees twenty-four elders holding on to golden bowls that have in them incense, which we are told are ‘the prayers of God’s people.’ Isn't is something to behold that every prayer you prayed - all the frustrations, the tears, the lost hope, and desires of our heart are not wasted, but cherished, remembered by God, stored up in one of those golden bowls, awaiting their fulfilment. The prayer you prayed for better health, restored relationships, financials problems, your family and so much more they are heard, and they are held, awaiting an ultimate answer on the day when cancer and depression are finally be defeated. Every single time we say ‘amen’, we put it in the hands of heaven.

Again thank you so much for joining us on this 21-day prayer journey and I hope that it has encouraged and challenged you in your prayer life. As you continue in prayer, be encouraged that every single time, God hears you, knows you and loves you.

- Pr Adrian

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stains from my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

Psalm 51:2

Confess

When I was roughly 4-5 years old, I remember being at the toy store at Greensborough Plaza with my aunty and cousin. While my aunty was purchasing some items, I unironically eyed off this bouncy ball at the counter, that was clear in appearance but contained an eyeball floating in blue liquid. I knew instantly that I NEEDED that ball. So, when I thought the adults were distracted, I grabbed the ball and put it in my pocket, my aunty only realizing what I had done once we got home and she woke me from my nap in the car, revealing what I was holding.

Psalm 51:1-2 reads:

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stains from my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.”

Whilst the severity of my story does not compare to that of David who wrote the Psalm, when my Aunty saw the ball, she had to ask, “Where did you get this?” and now as a grown up, I understand that she knew exactly where that ball came from, but she still asked, to see what I would say. I quietly said it was from the toy shop and to my surprise she was kind and merciful about it. She saw that I knew I had done the wrong thing, and I had learnt my lesson after confessing where I had gotten this ball from.

If I had lied, she would still know where the ball came from, and she would know that I’m trying to hide the fact I stole it. I would be carrying the guilt of not only stealing but also lying. My confession, first leads to forgiveness, and forgiveness leads to freedom from guilt.

When I think about it, the store clerk probably saw me take the ball, she allowed me to make a mistake and learn from it. The same way

Our Father allows us to make our own decisions and learn from them. We must confess our sins and mistakes to Him in order to receive forgiveness which will set us free from guilt.

When we pray, confess our sins to Him, ask for His forgiveness and mercy. Ask for strength to forgive others, and for strength to resist temptations.

Pray: “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stains from my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.”

Today's contributor: Aidan Vellu

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Happy are they who find refuge in him!

Psalm 34: 8 (REB)

Taste and see

In 2015 Sheri and I spent 2 weeks in Iran. There is definitely a suffocating government and religious structure there, but this contrasts with the genuine hospitality and friendliness of people in the street. They are proud of their Persian heritage and this is particularly evident in the provision of public gardens. Our word ‘paradise ‘ comes from the Persian word 'pardis', which originally referred to a walled enclosure.

These walled gardens were like little oases spread across the Persian Empire. In Iran today these beautifully designed gardens attract people all through the day, for times of contemplation and reflection. There are no bikes, skateboards, piped music, cafes, or commercial signs - for those seeking refuge from the cares of this world this is paradise. In a hot dry climate the water features are refreshing and attractive; the soothing sounds of little streams and fountains make you want to linger and let your thoughts wander. You probably have your own version of paradise - a backyard garden, a bush walking track, a tent by the river, a local garden, maybe even a church.

We seek a quiet place to talk to God and listen to Him – this is paradise!

Pray: Heavenly Father, you are the source of all goodness. We thank you that you are a God who not only listens but also answers. Help us to find quiet times and places in our busy week where we can contemplate even more your supreme love. Amen.

Today's contributor: Allan Gray

Parsnips, as requested

When the ADRA crisis relief team receive a request for food, they ask if any special items are needed. An unusual request for powdered milk came from a family with three small children, but no fridge! (They received milk and a fridge.) A group of international students shyly asked if they could have some ice cream. They were given their favourite - ‘cookies and cream’, which was ‘’on special’’! A homeless man asked for celery, and it was provided. A lady asked for parsnips so she could make ‘’a hearty winter soup’. Her food delivery included parsnips, as requested.

Jesus told a story about an unusual food request. After the disciples had asked Him to teach them to pray, He asked them to imagine…

‘’Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend travelling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’

‘The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up and get you anything.’

‘But I tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s your friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbours, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need.

‘Here’s what I’m saying, Ask and you’ll get, seek and you’ll find, knock and the door will open.

Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need.’’

(Luke 11:5 -10 The Message)

Ask for what you need, be persistent, and don’t be surprised when you receive ‘parsnips, as requested’.

Please continue to pray for our ADRA team, clients, contacts, those who donate and those who deliver ‘’parsnips, as requested’.

Today's contributor: Gwen Pascoe

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

‭‭Luke 18:1-5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

Perseverance

Perseverance is usually considered a noble trait of character. But there can be times when ongoing persistence can produce annoyance - even exasperation. Jesus related a story to His disciples about just such a situation.

There was a Judge, He said, who was uncaring - if not corrupt. A widow had been seeking justice from him, and for some time continually pestered him for a solution to her problem. Eventually her persistence got to him, and he relented and gave her the justice she desired.

Now does this parable teach that we need to pester God before He will take any notice of us? In one way, we do need to be persistent in our prayer to Him, but Jesus went on to say "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly."

Here is the Almighty God who we are privileged to worship, promising us that He will listen, and promptly provide us with not just what we want, but what He knows is best for us.

So, if you feel that God is ignoring your requests to Him, take courage from this assurance given by Jesus that even though worldly jurisdictions can be slow, uncertain and non-personal, God will always listen and act quickly.

PRAY: Thank you Father for Your personal care for each of us. Help us to understand that even though You are the Ruler of the universe, You still listen to us when we call to You.

Today's contributor: Ian Jackson

“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

Pray and Fast

Have you ever fasted? I haven't - not even the 'forty-hour famine'. (i have friends who have survived this with the aid of much barley sugar!)

In Bible times fasting was practised to show humility, sorrow and dependence on God. 'Prayer is talking to God as a friend'; fasting is for those thoughts which lie too deep for words.

Our story takes place in and around the royal palace of Susa, in Persia.

The main characters are:

   - Esther, Queen of Persia,

   - Mordecai, her uncle and adviser to the king,

   - Ahasuerus, King of Persia, and

   - Haman, King's counsellor and traditional enemy of the Jews, with a plan for 'ethnic cleansing'.

Esther was asked to 'Do something!' Something dangerous, possibly fatal to help her people.

Esther challenged Mordecai to round up as many of God's people he could find in the streets of Susa and have them fast and pray for her. She said, "pray for me, fast for me. My maidens and I will do the same. And we will see what God will do!' She determined to wait on the Lord and allow Him to frame her words. (Swindoll, Esther)

And He did!

PRAY that God will give us the words we need, and, sometimes, the wisdom to not use words at all.

Today's contributor: Donna and Gwen Pascoe

"Take this seriously. A yes on earth is a yes in heaven; a no on earth is a no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in Heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there."

Matthew 18:18-20 (The Message)

Someone is Praying for You

How often do you petition God?

How often do you appeal earnestly or humbly to God?

How often do you pray on behalf of another person?

In these verses we are reminded that there's power in our words - good or bad and immense power in prayer.

What is it about two people praying together that causes God to spring into action? And, is three an extra special number for prayer? I'm pretty sure that it is not the numbers that matter. It's the thoughts, prayer, and petitions that we give to God that matter.

Why pray for others? Because there is so much power in intercessory prayer.

“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”. (Tennyson)

We might be troubled, but God knows what we need. Sometimes the prayer of a friend is what we need to hear, and what God needs so He can act.

The song "Someone is praying for you" by the Heritage Singers is so powerful, and holds so much meaning for me. Watch the 2001 version here.

"Someone is praying for you,

Someone is praying for you,

So when it seems you're all alone,

And your heart will break in two,

Remember someone is praying for you"

Singing this song still makes me cry. It's a poignant reminder of the time, all those years ago, when I had cancer and I sat in Greensborough Church and heard someone pray for me by name. I will never forget that experience. And I pray others will be blessed by your prayers for them.

Pray: Pause for a moment. Who is in your heart to pray for? Pray for these names, and why not ring a friend, share these names and pray together? That's what our texts today say! So why not give it a try?

Today's contributor: Donna Pascoe

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

 John 10:27

Know His Voice

Two weeks ago we were called upon to help out on our daughter’s farm. Apart from the regular odd jobs that I was used to, it happened to be moving day for a mob of cattle. They had been eating out the grass on a neighbouring farm and now it was time for them to leave. They had to be herded out across the main road and into their own farm gate. Armed with a long whip and loud voice it was my job to get them across the road. With a loud series of “whoops” and a couple of cracks of the whip, they quickly fled away from me. Across the road, through the gate and down the laneway! Back home!

What a different scene to our scripture today. Our shepherd, the good Shepherd, speaks gently to his flock. Instead of a whip he carries a shepherd’s crook as he gently leads us. Guiding, guarding, feeding and loving us.

We need to be listening for His voice. In 2021 there are so many voices and noise that take our attention. His voice is the voice that invites us away from stress and distress. He gently invites us to come to Him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28 (NIV).

Knowing His voice and knowing we are part of His flock should surely give us confidence living in such troubling times.

PRAY: Father thank you for your gracious love towards each one of us. Guide me and correct me when I need it. Lead my thoughts and life in your ways. Thankyou for providing all my needs and allowing me to rest in you. Shut out the noise of the world so that I can hear your voice.

Today's contributor: Sheri Gray

“Be still, and know that I am God!

    I will be honored by every nation.

    I will be honored throughout the world.”

 Psalm 46:10

"BE STILL... AND KNOW"

As I walked along the road, I became aware that the only sounds were made by the dog’s paws and my boots. I stopped … and listened. There was nothing – except silence. No distant trucks, no aeroplanes, no rumble of tractors, no clang of construction. No drip of rain from wet leaves. No warble of magpies, no concert of lyrebirds. No whisper of wind. Just silence and stillness. This was not sensory deprivation, but intense listening.

Was this what the prophet Elijah heard when the noise and activity stopped? Did he hear the ‘still small voice’ in total silence and stillness? These are rare qualities. Silence is defined as the absence of sound; sound is not defined as the absence of silence. Stillness is defined as the absence of movement; movement is not defined as the absence of stillness.

Do you have a special time or place where you can ‘be still and know’? Jesus sometimes chose a solitary place to meet with His Father.

You may not ever be in a place of complete silence or stillness, but you can pray anywhere. One of the ‘noisiest’ chapters in the Bible is Daniel 3. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not experience silence, only loud martial music, the pomp and pageantry of an empire, the murmur of a large crowd and the shouts of the king! There was no stillness either, as they were roughly handled, tied, and thrown into the superheated furnace. There was no time for long prayers! But they were not alone in this most unlikely of places, for there was a fourth ‘like the Son of God.’

In the words of Reuben Morgan’s ‘Still’

Hide me now under your wings,

      cover me within your mighty power.

When the oceans rise and thunders roar,

     I will soar with you above the storm.

Father, you are king over the flood,

      I will be still, know you are God.

Rest my soul in Christ alone,

     know his power in quietness and trust.

When the oceans rise and thunders roar,

     I will soar with you above the storm,

Father, you are king over the flood,

   I will be still, know you are God.

Pray for God’s presence wherever you are.

Today's contributor: Gwen Pascoe

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

 Hebrews 13:15

ADORATION AND PRAISE

Our Heavenly Father is a God of infinite love and grace, He is not a strict or demanding God. He does not oblige us to have a relationship with Him, or have expectations of what our praise to him looks like. He does, however, want to get to know us. Isn’t it amazing how our God, the creator of our planet, wants a relationship with us? One way of developing our relationship with God is through our praise.

We all have different ways of praising God – maybe it’s reading and studying the Word, or singing worship songs, or perhaps its spending time on our knees in prayer. There is not a right or wrong way in which we praise God, and maybe you do a mixture of these during your time of worship. No matter how you worship God, it is important that we do it continually and to proclaim allegiance to God’s name.

Allegiance, according to the Cambridge English Dictionary, is defined as “loyalty and support for a ruler, country, group, or belief”. Proclaiming allegiance to God casts my mind to the first two commandments:

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”

Obeying the commandments is a way of praising God, where we should continually do this to develop and strengthen our relationship with God.

Pray about how you worship and offer praises to God, that you do this continually and in allegiance to God.

Today's contributor: Julie Pavaday

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

 Revelation 14:6-7

WORSHIP GOD

The Apostle John would have already been an old man when he was banished as a prisoner to the Isle of Patmos. This island was sterile, a place of convicts. And yet it was this barren place that Jesus chose to bring to John amazing revelations of Himself and of things to come in this world.

John had spent over 3 years with Jesus during His ministry on this earth. He had watched Him, talked with Him, touched Him. But this was different. Here Jesus revealed Himself as Almighty God. When John saw Jesus, he tells us that "he fell at His feet as though dead..."

John was instructed to write what he saw - and in many instances what he saw was beyond human description, but the word pictures he used leave no doubt as to the greatness of our God.

And this is the great God that we are privileged to be able to worship - more, to call our friend. This is the God that had so much compassion for us that He came to this earth and paid for our sins with His own life - the very Creator Himself.

John no doubt listened very carefully to the angel he saw flying in the heavens with the everlasting Gospel - calling with a loud voice "Fear God and give Him glory....Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."

Here we find the true object of our worship.

PRAY: Father, thank you for your great patience and compassion. Thank you that even though we are not worthy, You are prepared to forgive us. We ask you for strength to follow the path that You would have us travel, and we look forward to the time we will have the awesome blessing of seeing You face to face.

Today's contributor: Ian Jackson

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

                                    Matthew 6:5-8

This is one of the best pieces of advice I have received about prayer: Keep it Simple, Keep it Real and Keep It Up.

No matter how simple our prayers are or how real we are with our heavenly Father, Jesus also invites us, with the use of a challenging parable in Luke 18, to pray and never give up. (An in depth look coming next week!)

But how do we do this when our initial passion and zeal fades and God doesn’t seem to be answering or even listening? Day after day, week after week and even year after year we ask God for a breakthrough. For healing and wholeness in our family, provision when we are lacking the basics, health when our body is failing. We pray the same thing over and over again, until suddenly, the breakthrough arrives, the miracle happens. It’s not that we finally found the right formula and it may not have even happened in the way we asked but it is simply that we didn’t give up praying one prayer too soon.

I have found it true in my life that this most important factor in "keeping it up" is developing a discipline of the daily. The active setting some quiet time aside. If I fail to plan this in my day life just gets in the way and it always will. This is an active ritual that was even practiced by Jesus. He even invited his friends, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31 NLT). So I invite you to follow Jesus' example and millions of his followers, ever since, to allocate a little time each day to come aside to a quiet place with Jesus.

PRAY: Father, thank you that you do hear my prayers, you may not answer when I would like or how I would like, but you do answer. Please give me the strength to 'keep it up' in prayer and help me to remember that every single prayer is heard by you and never a waste. Amen

Today's contributor: Adrian Peterson

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

                                    Matthew 6:5-8

This is one of the best pieces of advice I have received about prayer: Keep it Simple, Keep it Real and Keep It Up.

Jesus encourages us to keep our prayers simple but also to Keep It Real. Prayers that are honest, open and at times raw. There is a great example found in Luke 18:9-14 where Jesus tells a story of a Pharisee and a tax collector. One who is religious, pious and holy, and knows it, the other is an outcast, broken and a sinner, and knows it. It is the tax collector that bows his head not feeling worthy and cries, "O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner." He knows that he is not worthy of God's mercy yet asks for it anyway. He is real about himself, he is real about his situation and he is real as he speaks with his God in heaven.

What situation, problem or internal struggle is it time to be real with God about? Claim the promise today: "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

PRAY: God, thank you that you accept and hear the real me. Thank you that you welcome the real me and invite me to be raw, honest and real with you. God have mercy on me and my situation. Amen.

Today's contributor: Adrian Peterson

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

                                    Matthew 6:5-8

This is one of the best pieces of advice I have received about prayer: Keep it Simple, Keep it Real and Keep it Up.

Before Jesus teaches His disciples what is commonly known as the Lord's Prayer, He advises against making prayer over-complicated and definitely not for show. Instead, we should keep it simple. To go into a room by yourself, close the door, and spend time with your Father. An example of this simplicity is found in the following verse which we have studied for the last week. A prayer that is just 30 words long in its original Greek and takes just 30 seconds to say. Jesus reminds us that prayer can be natural and simple if we don't over think it.

There are no rules, no forced script, no formula, it is true that some little habits or rituals might help us but they don't mean God will hear us more or respond more favourably. Jesus invites us to approach our heavenly Father simply, directly and truthfully in the special and unique way He made us. If you are like me you can get quite fidgety so I go for a walk and pray, away from the chaos of home! I also write many of my prayers down to try remain focused and has the benefit of keeping a record to see the way God may have answered. Sit in silence and meditate of scripture, do a dance, play some worship music. What are some ways that you speak with your heavenly father?

PRAY: God, thank you for the unique and wonderful way that you made me. Please help me to pray simply, to remove complications from my prayer life, to shut the door to distraction and to talk freely with you. Amen

Today's contributor: Adrian Peterson

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

                                    Matthew 6:13

Lead Us Not Into Temptation...

Temptation has plagued the human race since the Garden of Eden.

The temptation to disobey God’s commands came from Satan himself. In our hi-tech world those same temptations are powerfully presented to us through TV, advertising, and social media – we can’t escape it. Sometimes we are pressured or influenced by people we encounter, and the results are not always good.

However, we should not go into a defensive mode – we are always in a position to influence others for good [lead others away from temptation!]. Although temptation is something we all experience, it does not necessarily lead to sin, we make our own free-will choices.

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” Matthew 6: 13 (KJV) is a little confusing if we are familiar with James 1:13 which clearly says "God doesn’t tempt anybody." The Revised English Bible (REB) says it this way; ‘Temptation comes when anyone is lured and dragged away by his own desires’.

Modern translations like the REB put a different twist on Matthew 6: 13; ‘And do not put us to the test, but save us from the evil one.’ The prayer seems to be saying please don’t allow us to be in situations where our faith may be overcome by evil forces, help us realise the consequences of sin and act accordingly.

Temptation is a challenge, but sin is a choice. Temptation is inevitable, but sin is not.

PRAY: God help me to rejoice in your power and goodness. Help me to accept responsibility for my actions, and allow me to surrender my daily life to the influence of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today's contributor: Allan Gray

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

                                    Matthew 6:12

Forgive Us

Can you think of a time where something has happened and you had to decide whether to forgive that person or not? What were your thoughts in that moment? Were you hesitant to forgive because of the hurt or disappointment you felt at the time?

What about when you were the one who sought forgiveness? How easy, or difficult was it, to ask for forgiveness? Were you forgiven? Has that experience changed the way you forgive?

For me, forgiveness is a concept, or principle, that was always talked about within the Church. It is not always an easy thing to do, and sometimes we need to pray for strength – strength to forgive those who do wrong against us, or for others to forgive us.

I wonder if, and how, Joseph forgave his brothers after they sold him into slavery (see Genesis 37-50). If I was in Joseph’s position, I think I would struggle to forgive my brothers. What about you? Would you find it easy, or difficult, to forgive your brothers if you were Joseph?

The comforting thing about forgiveness, is that when we forgive others, God forgives us too. We can find comfort in the promise found in verse 14:

“You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.” Matthew 6:14 (MSG)

Pray for your relationship with God, and that God gives you the strength to forgive anyone who has done wrong against or hurt you. May you find comfort in forgiving, and the forgiveness that comes from God.

Today's contributor: Julie Pavaday

Give us today our daily bread.

                                    Matthew 6:11

Daily Bread

On Monday morning this week, my husband, Allan and I shopped at an Afghani supermarket. The smell of freshly baked bread and sweet pomegranate molasses filled the air. The bakers were constantly moving, working to produce everyone’s daily bread. A friendly wave to a familiar customer and then back to work. Metre long flat breads were stacked near the door so that there was easy access.

No pre- packed, “run of the mill “bread for these customers. They know the baker and he knows them.

Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread” is about God our father knowing our needs, and not about our wants. It’s about the necessities of life and acknowledging our dependence upon Him.

Maybe it’s more about how to pray, than what to pray for. To ask humbly, knowing our dependence upon Him for life. John 6:35 Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life.” We need to daily recognise this, especially in 2021 where we like to be self -sufficient.

PRAY: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wonderful provision for all Your children. Thank You that in Your grace You have promised to provide all that we need, according to Your riches in glory. I’m reminded how you provide all of my sustenance- physical. Spiritual and emotional. I am totally dependant on you and your mercy toward me.

AMEN

Today's contributor: Sheri Gray

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven

                                    Matthew 6:10

Kingdom come

‘’Kingdom come’’ is a phrase rarely heard now, but it used to refer to the distant future, or to destruction, as in ‘blown to kingdom come’ by wartime bombing. If you Google ‘kingdom come’, you will be put in touch with a game; if you look it up in Macquarie Dictionary, you will find it means ‘the kingdom of Christ to come, the next world’.

When Jesus says ‘kingdom come’’ in the Lord’s Prayer, He is referring to a specific, unique kingdom – the kingdom of ‘’Our Father’. In other texts His words are sometimes translated ‘Kingdom of God’, sometimes ‘Kingdom of Heaven’.

The disciples know about kings and kingdoms. They know the tramp of foreign feet on their streets, and the need to get out of the way. They know what it was like to be pushed aside, or forced to carry heavy loads. They know that the despised Jewish tax collectors are protected by Roman soldiers. They know about paranoid puppet kings. They also know about revolts and retribution. They look forward to a time when the Messiah will establish a ‘golden age’ like that of the reigns of David and Solomon (conveniently forgetting that David’s reign was a time of almost continuous war, and Solomon’s a time of extortionate taxation. Subsequent kings rarely thought of the welfare of their citizens.)

From the teaching of Jesus, they should have learned that God’s kingdom is not like this. He says ‘My kingdom is not of this world’. It is multilayered – concerned with the present (‘the kingdom of God is at hand’) and future; it is internal (‘the kingdom of God is within you”) and external. It is a way of living and the focus of hope.

Jesus compares it to a fishing net, a sower of seeds, a pearl-seeking merchant, a mustard seed, hidden treasure, a king who forgives his debtor, the owner of a vineyard, and a king who gives a wedding feast.

In Romans 14:17, Paul says ‘… the kingdom of heaven is … a matter of… righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’. The Message puts it this way: God’s kingdom "...is what God does with your life as He sets it right, puts it together and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ.’’

‘’Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed by your name,

Your kingdom come…’’

Pray to our Father, that His kingdom will be made known in your life and be seen by those around you.

Today's contributor: Gwen Pascoe

Our Father in heaven,

may your name be kept holy.

                                    Matthew 6:9 (NLT)

Holy Father

Out of all the possible names Jesus could have used to come to God in prayer he chooses ‘Father’. He could have said, ‘YHWH’ or ‘Lord’, ‘our King’ or even ‘our Ruler’. But instead, he chooses ‘Father’ as the name by which we approach God in prayer. ‘ABBA’ is the Old Testament equivalent, a term of intimacy, endearment, a symbol of the close connection a parent has with their child and the deep affection that results. When we seek God in prayer Jesus encourages us to approach Him in the same intimate way that a child would talk with a parent.

Notice that this is no earthly parent, our Father exists in the spiritual realm and His name is to be ‘kept’ holy. This implies that not only is the state of holiness something that exists outside our prayer but that through our prayer we continue to place God in that position of honour.

I don’t know about you, but this draws out a great sense of my own unworthiness and changes how I approach God in prayer. Yes, our Father is Holy and worthy and deserving of honour, he should be approached as Lord, King, Ruler of my life. BUT He asks that even in His holiness we approach Him as Father, He desires intimacy, openness and for us to freely come to Him in prayer.

Pray to our Father, declare Him holy and then describe other characteristics of God that make Him holy. Sit with this passage and reflect on these attributes.

Today's contributor: Lyndelle Peterson

     Pray like this:

     Our Father in heaven,

         may your name be kept holy.

     May your Kingdom come soon.

     May your will be done on earth,

         as it is in heaven.

     Give us today the food we need,

     and forgive us our sins,

         as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

     And don’t let us yield to temptation,

         but rescue us from the evil one.

                                    Matthew 6:9-13 (NLT)

Pray like this...

It was Luther that famously coined “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer” and the history records tell us he wasn’t exaggerating, there are many accounts of students and friends attesting to his dedication to fervent, daily prayer. Yet in 2021 to imagine praying for 3 hours a day leaves many feeling helpless, a not uncommon problem of knowing what to prayer could perhaps be the reason why Jesus felt it so important to provide a model for His disciples. “Pray like this” he said.

Whether you’re in the very early stages of your journey of prayer or you’re a seasoned prayer warrior, this model of prayer given by Jesus has a way of transcending culture, traditions, attitudes, and experience. These are not mere words, but a way of shaping our hearts, helping us to see and yearn for the very things that God himself desires.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer, first from scripture then try in your own words.

Today's contributor: Lyndelle Peterson

Welcome! So good to have you!

Over the next 3 weeks Plenty Valley Church is embarking on a journey of prayer. We will be exploring scripture, learning from each other, and being inspired to spend time talking with OUR FATHER.

Our series is inspired by the Lord’s Prayer recorded in the book of Matthew.

Some have described this prayer as a summary of the whole Gospel, and it has been a model for Christians since the early days of the 1st Century. Used by many denominations and theological traditions, there is a sense of solidarity in knowing that other Christians around the globe and within our Church are praying together this same prayer. In giving us these words, Jesus is in no way introducing a new form of prayer or restricting us to his exact words, as Ellen White has said "The Saviour does not, however, restrict us to the use of these exact words. As one with humanity, He presents His own ideal of prayer, words so simple that they may be adopted by the little child, yet so comprehensive that their significance can never be fully grasped by the greatest minds. - Thoughts from the mount of blessing - p103.

What to expect:

DAILY - Every morning a devotional will be made available. The devotional will include both a passage and some encouraging and inspirational thoughts written by our Church family. We encourage you to take time to read the passage and use it as your morning prayer.

WEEKLY - Every Sabbath in our worship a different passage with be shared or a testimony on the power of prayer given.

May the Lord lead you and bless you as we embark on this journey together.

How to use this prayer guide:

START by praying this short prayer:

Dear God, please guide me as I open your Word this morning.

Thank you. Amen.

READ the passage of the day. Let the Holy Spirit talk to you. There will be words or phrases that will jump out of the verse/s and inspire or impress you.

READ the devotional thought written by a Plenty Valley Church member.

PRAY by using these words and phrases, personalise them in terms of your own experience of God. Also use the prayer guide that is at the end of each devotional.

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

    praise him in his mighty heaven!

Praise him for his mighty works;

    praise his unequaled greatness!

Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;

    praise him with the lyre and harp!

Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;

    praise him with strings and flutes!

Praise him with a clash of cymbals;

    praise him with loud clanging cymbals.

Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

   Psalm 150:1-6.

Pray for:

● Pray that God’s creatures might praise Him greatly for His mighty acts

● Pray that praise to God might be full and glorious over all the earth.

Sing to the Lord a new song. 

    Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.

O Israel, rejoice in your Maker.

    O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.

Praise his name with dancing,

    accompanied by tambourine and harp.

For the Lord delights in his people;

    he crowns the humble with victory.

Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them.

    Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.

   Psalm 149:1-5.

Pray for:

● Pray that praise might increase to God and that His people might know more of His salvation.

● Ask God to fill His people with joy and praise.

Praise the Lord! 

How good to sing praises to our God!

    How delightful and how fitting!

He heals the brokenhearted

    and bandages their wounds.

He counts the stars

    and calls them all by name.

How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!

    His understanding is beyond comprehension!

The Lord supports the humble,

    but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

   Psalm 147:1, 3-6.

Pray for:

● Praise God for the many ways He is building His church.

Praise the Lord! 

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

    I will praise the Lord as long as I live.

    I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;

    there is no help for you there.

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,

    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He made heaven and earth,

    the sea, and everything in them.

    He keeps every promise forever.

He gives justice to the oppressed

    and food to the hungry.

The Lord frees the prisoners.

    The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.

    The Lord loves the godly.

The Lord protects the foreigners among us.

    He cares for the orphans and widows.

   Psalm 146:1-3, 5-9.

Pray for:

● Praise the Lord, and declare your trust in Him.

● Praise Him for His gracious care.