TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
He said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.” Luke 11:2-4
Read: Luke 11:1-4
Listen: Luke 11
TODAY’S MESSAGE
The Lord’s Prayer is probably the most popular and widely used prayer in the Bible. Jesus prayed this prayer when asked by his disciples about how to pray. It was his way of teaching them a form of how to pray and to desire what he desires. Although the prayer is short, it has much to teach us about both words to say and the very heart of Jesus.
It is so easy for us to move quickly through The Lord’s Prayer and not really be changed. However, we are going to focus on this important prayer for the next 40 days. In what we are calling 40 Days of Prayer, we will find a quiet space and read it slowly to notice each word and phrase. It will be time to reflect on these words and have Jesus’s prayer shape our prayers.
Over this next 40 days, we may find that Jesus prayer not only shapes our prayers but also our lives. 40 Days of Prayer will help us grow in the practice of praying as we learn what matters most to God. And it might make us a fundamentally different church and community as we pursue this together. May our hearts be open to learning more about prayer and begin to reflect God’s own heart this week.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Commit to join us in the 40 Days of Prayer and think through some steps to make sure it happens. Pick a time and schedule it on your calendar to read the Beyond the Weekend and pray each day. Ask someone to check in with you to ask how it is going. Then end your time by praying The Lord’s Prayer.
40 DAYS OF PRAYER
Join us for 40 DAYS OF PRAYER where all of us will find a quiet space and slowly read The Lord’s Prayer. May forty days of praying like Jesus prayed, and desiring what Jesus wanted, make a big difference in our hearts and our communities.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is John 3.
