Lesson 4: The Model Prayer

Have you ever noticed how the model prayer brings us full circle from "Thy name, Thy kingdom, Thy will" to "Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and glory" while "give us, forgive us, lead us, and deliver us" come in between? In this lesson, Andrew Murray reminds us that, "The sooner [we] learn to forget [ourselves] in the desire that [our Father] may be glorified, the richer will the blessing be that prayer will bring to [ourselves]... it is only when we yield ourselves to be led of Him, that the name will be hallowed in our prayers and in our lives... When first the child has yielded himself to the Father in the care for His Name, His Kingdom, and His Will, he has full liberty to ask for his daily bread... As bread is the first need of the body, so forgiveness for the soul...Our daily bread, the pardon of our sins, and then our being kept from [evil], in these three petitions all our personal need is comprehended." Faith in God's Fatherly love for us and trust in His care will lead us to want His ways and will. When we learn to trust Him fully and to worship Him truly, ALL our own needs will be abundantly met. We will never lose anything worthwhile by putting God first in our prayers or in our lives.