" The REAL LORD's Prayer "

    PRAYER, have you ever given this subject real earnest thought ? When I taught the older class of kids at our church in PA, I used to ask them this question:  If you have a best friend, someone who you would never think of not talking to, at least every day, and this friend felt the same way, actually they loved you as a brother or sister and you just stopped talking to them, how do you think that would make them feel about your relationship with them ?  Well these would be human friends that would not understand why you were no longer talking to them as you once did and I am sure they would get to the bottom of why your friendship seemed to be on the rocks.  In some ways it is the same way with GOD through our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.

     In the book of Luke Chapter.11: 1 thru 4, JESUS was in a certain place praying and when HE was finished one of HIS disciples asked HIM to teach them to pray. Now many people consider this the LORD's Prayer and you will find it many places on plaques, pictures, cups etc. But actually if you study where HE gives this in the other gospel records, it is to be only a model or an outline of content of what our prayers should include, when we pray.
          Our FATHER ( to whom ) which art in heaven,
          Hallowed be THY name ( praise and worship ),
          THY kingdom come, THY will be done ( HIS will not ours ),
          On earth at it is in heaven ( everywhere ),
          Give us this day our daily bread, ( each days needs )
          And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors     (forgiveness),
          And lead us not into temptation ( lead us daily ),
          But deliver us from evil ( deliver us daily ),
          For THINE is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
          forever. ( All is HIS )   AMEN ( a strong assurance )
If you wanted to give the above model or outline an actual name, it could be titled, the " Disciples in Training Prayer ".  Each of the lines above have an aspect of humility, praise and worship along with an acknowledgement that HE is the provider of our daily needs, forgiveness, and the strong assurance that ALL is HIS and HE is in complete control, not to worry or fear no matter where we are as HIS child, HE is there. The closer you walk with HIM in prayer, the closer you will be as a loving FATHER to HIS sometimes wayward child. HE knows us better than we know ourselves, because HE was there before you were even created...Psalm 139....but the name of this post is the REAL LORD's Prayer, so let's get to that.

     In the book of John Chapter 17, which happens to be one of my favorite places to read, is the REAL LORD's Prayer. If you read in chapters 13 thru 16, the LORD was giving HIS disciples a lot of info, some of which was hard for them to hear and understand and the LORD wanted them to have a part in the 26 verses of Chapter 17. Not only did HE pray for HIMSELF in verses 1 thru 5, but HE prayed for the disciples in verses 6 thru 19 and what is truly amazing, HE prayed for you and me ( future believers ) in verses 20 thru 26. Let me give you the 17th Chapter of John... " The REAL LORD's Prayer " ---

          JESUS spoke these words, lifted up HIS eyes to heaven, and said:
"FATHER, the hour has come. Glorify YOUR SON, that YOUR SON also may glorify YOU, as YOU have given HIM authority over all flesh, that HE should give eternal life to as many as YOU have given HIM. And this is eternal life, that they may know YOU, the only TRUE GOD, and JESUS CHRIST WHOM YOU have sent. I have glorified YOU on the earth. I have finished the work which YOU have given ME to do. And now, O FATHER, glorify ME together with YOURSELF, with the glory which I had with YOU before the world was.
          I have manifested YOUR name to the men whom YOU have given ME out of the world. They were YOURS, YOU gave them to ME , and they have kept YOUR WORD. Now they have known that all things which YOU have given ME are from YOU. For I have given to them the words which YOU have given ME; and they have received them, and have known surely that I cam forth from YOU; and they have believed that YOU sent ME. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom YOU have given ME, for they are YOURS. And all MINE are YOURS, and YOURS are MINE, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to YOU. HOLY FATHER, keep through YOUR name those whom YOU have given ME, that they may be one as WE are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in YOUR name. Those whom YOU gave ME I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition (Judas Iscariot who betrayed JESUS) that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to YOU, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have MY joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them YOUR WORD; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of this world. I do not pray that YOU should take them out of the world, but that YOU should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by YOUR TRUTH, YOUR WORD is TRUTH. As YOU sent ME into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify MYSELF, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
          I do not pray for these (the disciples) alone, but also for those who will believe in ME through their word; that they all may be one, as YOU FATHER, are in ME, and I in YOU; that they also may be one in US, that the world may believe that YOU sent ME. And the glory which YOU gave ME I have given them, that they may be one just as WE are one; I in them, and YOU in ME; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that YOU have sent ME, and have loved them as YOU have loved ME. FATHER, I desire that they also whom YOU gave ME may be with ME where I am, that  they may behold MY glory which YOU have given ME; for YOU loved ME before the foundation of the world. O righteous FATHER ! The world has not known YOU, but I have known YOU; and these have known that YOU sent ME. And I have declared to them YOUR name, and will declare it, that the love with which YOU loved ME may be in them, and I in them."  John 17:1-26

     Once HE was done with HIS prayer, JESUS went to the Mount of Olives where HE was first kissed by HIS betrayer, Judas, and then arrested. The REAL LORD's Prayer was prayed for HIMSELF, for HIS disciples and for those who would believe in HIM in the future.  JESUS knew that Judas was in the process of betraying HIM. HE was not concerned for HIS own life, but as always HE was praying for others-HIS friends in whom HE loved and " sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). HE was praying to bring glory and honor to HIS FATHER through the final work that GOD the FATHER had given HIM to do. JESUS's work on the cross was nothing short of awe inspiring, miraculous and the greatest show of love that anyone could ever show to filthy sinners like us. That's right, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us. HIS love has no bounds, no limits, no end EXCEPT by time.  In this life only are we given the chance and the choice to say YES to HIS wonderful gift of Salvation. If you're not sure or if you have never asked HIM into your heart to become your SAVIOR - do it now, because HE said that " today is the day of Salvation ". Bow your head in prayer, admit to JESUS that you know that you are a sinner in need of HIS forgiveness, ask HIM into your heart to save you, and HE will -- REMEMBER HE has already prayed for you to come to HIM, all you have to do is answer HIM in prayer !!!
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie