Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:11-13 (NIV)
One of the books I read said the Lord’s Prayer begins and ends on two mountains and in between is the valley where we live. We’re headed into this valley now where Jesus provides us prayers for the dips and decoys of life.
Give us today our daily bread.
Most of us do not lack for food. But bread here refers to whatever ever you need today. Do you need peace? Strength? Help? God will give you what you need for your “daily” bread. He does not want us to worry about tomorrow or next week. Yes, we should plan for tomorrow, but we are not to worry about it.
The “us” in this verse implores us to look outward at those who truly need physical bread. When we prayed earlier “Your will be done,” this is where God’s will intersects with our actions. God wants us to pray and provide for those truly in need.
Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Forgiveness is hard. How can we forgive someone who has stabbed an imaginary dagger in our back that slices as sharp and deep as a real dagger?
Forgiveness is costly. It cost God His One and only Son. Jesus’ death on the cross paid for the debt of our sin. God extended His grace to us in accordance with the depths of our sin at our salvation.
Forgiveness is freedom. When we forgive, we set the person who wronged us free, and we are free ourselves.
Confess your sins. Forgive others. Ask God for help. Do it now.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Lead us not into temptation” is a cry to resist ______________ . (Fill in the blank.) We all have that one thing that tempts us beyond our strength and abilities. God allows these temptations so we can see the truth of our hearts. Every time we rely on Him to say no to these temptations we are strengthening the muscle of our will.
Deliver us from evil is a plea to God to protect us from our enemy and ourselves. There will be some days when the enemy is too strong for us. There will be other days where our own sin entices us away from God. Plead with Him to deliver you from evil.
What does your valley look like right now? Ask for your “daily bread.” Come clean and confess your sins. Forgive that person who wronged you. Beg God to keep you away from temptation and deliver you from evil.
This week practice praising God, then walk through each of these petitions: daily bread, forgiveness, temptations and deliverance. Next Friday, we will tackle the remainder of the Lord’s Prayer.