Praying Jesus' Way (4)

Praying Jesus' Way (4)

The second part of the Lord's Prayer addresses our everyday concerns: 'Give us each day our daily bread' (v. 3). Your Father is willing to meet your physical and financial needs. The word Jesus used here meant literal 'food'. God is more concerned about the necessities of your everyday life than you are. He multiplied food for five thousand hungry people. '...He...healed all who were sick' (Matthew 8:16 NKJV). And He wants to meet your needs, too. '...Do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?"' (Matthew 6:31 NIV). The 'bread man' delivers fresh bread daily! So trust Him for today's needs, and tomorrow morning get up and do the same. '...Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors' (Matthew 6:12 NKJV). The moment you enter God's presence, you become aware of your sin. And Satan will try to bring condemnation on you. How does he do it? By making you feel unwelcome and uneasy in God's presence. But Satan is a liar. 'There is...no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus...' (Romans 8:1 NKJV). God's Spirit brings your sins to light not to condemn you, but to motivate you to confess them and receive His forgiveness. God's Word identifies several categories of sin that we need to recognize. There's falling short of what's required; the deliberate violation of a specific rule; unintentional and often passionately motivated slips; deliberate disobedience and rebellion; failure to fulfill your indebtedness; the sin of omission. Regardless of what your sin is, the moment you confess it and ask God for forgiveness, He restores you (1 John 1:9).

Soul food: Hebrews 9:1-22; Exodus 6:28-8:32; Proverbs 2