The Lord's Prayer

"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 7 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 'Give us this day our daily bread. 12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]' 14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. Matthew 6:5-15 (NASB)

The “Lord's Prayer” is found in verses nine through fifteen. In verses five through eight, Jesus is putting into context His instruction on how to pray. I've included verses five through eight because they are critical to a full understanding of Christ's simple mandate. Jesus and His disciples had just witnessed a bunch of religious hypocrites praying their holy and, to be quite frank, impressive prayers. His response was simple.... DON'T DO THAT!

The religious mob liked to stand and pray in the synagogue. They weren't talking to God. They were performing for people. They wanted people to be impressed at how good they could pray and Jesus seemed to think they accomplished their goal... they want to impress man... they got their reward from man. Jesus's message was actually quite simple. The best way to avoid the trap of impressing people is to get away from people when you pray. God is the One we want to connect with. God is the One Whose attention we want. God is the One we want to hear us. God is the One we want to answer. So, get away from the distractions of man. Get alone and speak to the One we want to hear our prayer. Don't misunderstand, Jesus wasn't saying that praying together was bad. In fact He also told us that whenever two or more are gathered in His Name, He is there in the midst of us. Corporate prayer certainly has its place and there is much power in it. The issue is clear. If we want to pray and impress people, they are the ones we are praying to. And they can't answer squat. All they can do is put a stamp of approval on our prayer. And that's all we'll get for our effort... their stamp of approval, which, by the way, is worth absolutely nothing. To make matters worse, the next time we pray, we gotta spice up our prayer. People are vain and their approval is fleeting, at its best. When God hears us, it's an entirely different matter. He is the One Who will reward us in secret and His approval is all we need and it is all we should ever want.

The second point is equally simple. Don't use vain repetitions. We didn't learn that so well. The “Our Father” isn't a prayer to be prayed over and over again. It is an outline of how we should pray. We can pray this simple prayer over and over again, but it becomes mere words. To make matters worse, when I was young, I had been raised as a Catholic. We went to “confession” once a week or so and what was the “penance” for sinning. Well, we had to pray so many “Our Father's” and so many “Hail Mary's.” The number of prayers depended on how serious our “sin” was. I became quite proficient in speeding through these prayers. After all, I had to meet my buddies and go out drinking. Just saying a prayer certainly didn't do a lot for transforming my life. On the good side, however, I did have it memorized.

The third point is just as simple as the first two. We think of prayer as trying to get something from God. Jesus tells us clearly that God already knows what we need. Should we pray our concerns? Absolutely! We are told in Scripture to pray without ceasing in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. In 1 John 5:15, we are told that if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. We are also admonished in 1 Timothy 2:1 to pray and intercede for all men. In Ephesians 6:18-20, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

It is good to remember that if all we get when we pray is the Presence of God, we have received everything. The outline that Jesus gave us a pattern, not a prayer. It is a beginning of a conversation of the highest order. It is a conversation with the Creator of the entire universe. It is not a “form prayer” that God has to answer. Rather, it is a pattern, an outline, for a conversation with the King.

That being said, let's look at Jesus' pattern for effective prayer:


“Our Father, Who art in heaven, …

Father comes from the Greek word “pater,” which means, basically parent, specifically father. That sounds pretty simple doesn't it? It sounds like a no brainer, but it is actually establishing an identity. We all have a father. Someone impregnated our mother and we were born, right? Here, we are separating the worlds. I know who my earthly father is. I am praying to the One Who begot me when I was born again. I can't speak for anyone else, but God has been more of a Father to me than I ever had on this earth. When I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior, God became my Father. More than that, He gave me the Spirit that cries out, “Abba, Father.” I am no longer of this world, but actually, I'm an alien, a citizen of heaven, a new creature... a child of God, Himself. The very next phrase specifies this. “...Who art in heaven.” When I pray, I don't yell up to God as just another human being. I walk into His Presence as His son, His child, a fellow heir to the kingdom of heaven. I'm not just tossing up words to the heavens. I'm beginning a conversation with my Dad! Are you praying to the “big man in the sky”? Or are you praying to your “Daddy, ABBA Father”? The difference is simply this. If you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the God of all creation is your Father, your Dad, the One who loves you more than you ever could imagine.


“...Hallowed be Thy Name...”

The word “hallowed” is from the Greek word “hagiazo” and is defined “to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: - hallow, be holy, sanctify.” It is derived from the word “hagios” which is defined as “(an awful thing) compare G53, [H2282]; sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): - (most) holy (one, thing), saint.” “Awful,” by the way doesn't mean “terrible” as we have twisted it to mean in recent (the last hundred years) English. It literally means “full of awe.” Our Father is simply the most awe inspiring Being in the universe. There is no one like Him. He is full of wonder, all powerful, absolutely wonderful, pure, blameless.. and He calls Himself our Father. That, in itself, should leave us all speechless, but lets press on...

Sometimes we think of “worship” as merely a song that is slow and reverent or a lively song that gives us “chill bumps” or even a “mantra” of “thank you, Jesus.” It can be any or all of these, but let's be real. A love song can melt a romantic person's heart. A secular rock concert can give a fan “chill bumps.” And anyone can recite some words over and over again. True worship is so much more. What worship really boils down to is adoration for the Being Who gave us life and the God Who made a way, through Jesus, when we didn't stand a chance. Worship is calling it way it is. It's a declaration that God is Holy, set apart, awesome to say the least. More than that, He is so holy that His Presence, in itself, causes us to fall at His Feet and worship Him. If we want an idea of worship, we see it in Revelation 4:8-11 “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." 9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."” God is so Holy, so Awesome, so Glorious that He simply inspires worship... true worship. I've heard so many testimonies and even know some who have found themselves in His Presence as they worshiped Him. Time ceases to matter. All the cares of this world become nothing. Even those around you are minuscule in the Presence of the Almighty, the Creator of the universe.

The book of Psalms is filled with praise and adoration for the Lord God Almighty. David has no qualms about his intense desire for God's Presence. He was a man of war. He fought nations. He put his very life on the line as he led Israel in each battle. He didn't trust in his strength, though. He knew where his strength came from. He knew that everything he stood for and did meant nothing without the Blessing and the Presence of God. Consider Psalms 51:5-15. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.”

Moses desired to see God, but God let him know that no flesh could look at His Face and live. Check out Exodus 33:18-23 “Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!" 19 And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion." 20 But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" 21 Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 "Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen."” Especially consider Isaiah 6:1-8 “In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven."” When Isaiah found himself in the Presence of God, he was so overwhelmed by God's Glory that he couldn't think of anything except how unworthy he was to even be there. Hallowed be His Name!!!


“...Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...”

How can we say, like the old song, “I'm just a wayfaring pilgrim, wandering through this world of woe...” when Jesus told us to pray for God's kingdom to come and God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven? Is heaven a world of woe? Why then would we accept this world being a world of woe? Jesus came and told us that the kingdom is in our midst. Everywhere He went, He brought light and healing and drew all men to the Father. Who is in us? Who is this King of Glory? If Christ is truly in us and if what He said is true, “he who believes in Me, greater works than these will he do...” why would we ever accept the status quo for the world? NO!!! Let us pray for His Kingdom to come and when He says, “Who shall I send?” let us answer, “Here I am... send me!” Why did Jesus send out the twelve in Matthew 10:5-8saying, “These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” And why did He send out the seventy in Luke 10:2-12 , saying, “ And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 "Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 "Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. 5 "Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' 6 "If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 "Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. 8 "Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9 and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 "But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 'Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.' 12 "I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.” I think it pretty obvious that Jesus was commissioning the twelve and then the seventy to bring the Father's kingdom and His Will to earth... as it is in heaven.

Let's take it a little further. Why did Jesus say in Mark 16:15-18, “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. 17 "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." “? Why do we interpret this as bringing a bunch of doctors into a third world country instead of laying hands on the sick ourselves and seeing them recover? Are we not those who believe? Do we really think that Jesus only meant that for the twelve. Do we really think this was limited to the Book of Acts? Or are we those who believe and should we expect these signs to follow? Maybe we ought to be more earnest when we pray, “Thy kingdom come and Thy Will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven!” Let's go on...


“...Give us this day our daily bread...”

It is interesting that this is the only reference in the Lord's prayer that alludes to asking our Father to meet our needs. Of course, Jesus did tell us that we shouldn't worry about what we should eat or drink. Consider Matthew 6:25-34. After telling us that we cannot serve both God and money in the previous verse, Jesus says, "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34 (NASB) Also consider that Jesus told us that our Father already knows what we need before we ask just before telling us that when we pray, we should pray in this manner.

Much of Jesus' teaching tells us not to worry about food and drink, but then he includes this little phrase, “and give us this day our daily bread.” Why? Well He could have been telling us to take life one day at a time, as some teach. Or He could have been referring to a much deeper truth. When the disciples of Jesus were concerned that He wasn't eating, He told them His food was to do the will of the Father. “They went out of the city, and were coming to Him. 31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." 33 So the disciples were saying to one another, "No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?" 34 Jesus *said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”
John 4:30-34 (NASB)

Also consider the conversation after Jesus fed the multitude. Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." 28 Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." 30 So they said to Him, "What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.'" 32 Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." 34 Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread." 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 "But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." John 6:26-49 (NASB)

Personally, I think Jesus was telling us to pray for God to lead us in His Will... to help us see His Purpose... to have the courage to step out, do His Will and partake of this food. Our body is nourished when we eat natural food. Our spirit is nourished as we do the will of the Father. Jesus, walking in the supernatural, worded it well as He said He could only do what He saw the Father doing and could only speak what He heard the Father speaking. “Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” John 5:19 (NASB)


“...Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors...”

Here, we have another huge principle packed into very few words. Have you noticed, though, that when we pray the Lord's Prayer in a church out loud and together, there is a mass confusion when we get to this phrase? Some will say “debts” while others will say “trespasses.” Then, to make matters worse, still others will say “sins.” Why the difference?

First of all, there are two versions of the Lord's Prayer in the New Testament. The one we are looking at is in Matthew 6. Luke also recollected Jesus' teaching on this in his Gospel, but presents us with a very abbreviated version. In Luke 11:4 we read, “And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.'" In this passage, as we compare it to Matthew's version, it seems clear that we can interchange debts, transgression and sins as far as the Lord's Prayer is concerned. Luke was a doctor and remembered it from that perspective. Matthew, however, was a tax collector, who was accustomed to remembering thing in meticulous detail, so let's concern ourselves with Matthew and see what we can ascertain from it.

When I look at a number of translations, most will say “debts” while a few paraphrased translations will say “sins.” But I didn't see any of my usual translations saying “trespasses.” Yet, when I learned the “Our Father” in Catholic school, I learned “forgive us our trespasses...” and it stuck. Even today, I tend to say it in that manner. I think part of the reason it sticks in my mind is the number of times I said it. (I had to do a LOT of “Our Fathers” and “Hail Mary's” as penance in my Catholic years. The other reason is this. After I received Christ in my twenties and reading this simple prayer in its context, the first thing Jesus does after saying “Amen” is to explain that when we forgive others who trespass against us, Our Father will forgive our trespasses. So, it's reasonable to conclude that debts and trespasses are interchangeable here, but was there something deeper? The word translated as “debt” in verse twelve is “opheilēma” and is defined as “something owed, that is, (figuratively) a due.; morally a fault: - debt” I understand that, since if you sin against me, you would “owe” me recompense. At the very least, you would “owe” me an apology. I am told here to forgive it. But then, after this sample prayer, Jesus uses a different word. He uses “paraptōma” which is defined, “a side slip (lapse or deviation), that is, (unintentional) error or (wilful) transgression: - fall, fault, offence, sin, trespass.”

Now, that's kind of curious, unless Jesus was making it perfectly clear that whether it be a debt that is owed, a sin that is committed or even an offense that occurred, Jesus was more concerned with reconciliation than He was about being making sure we get what WE think we deserve. When the person who offended refuses to repent or make things right and we lay that thing before Jesus, that's his problem. When I refuse to forgive and demand retribution, even though I didn't necessarily do anything, it's my problem. The person who offended me may not even be aware of offending me or I might have taken the offense completely wrong. It doesn't really matter how “foolproof” my “analysis of the situation is. Whether I choose to hold it against my brother, unforgiveness lays hold of me. Bitterness takes root and the problem gets even worse. If I choose to not forgive my brother, how can God choose to forgive me? If I choose to be bitter, I give satan legal ground against me in the Courts of Heaven. As Jesus said in verses fourteen and fifteen, “"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” That's pretty serious! And will we say to God, “but I have reason to be angry... He owes me!!!”??? And He'll look at Jesus and say, “Really?!?”

Equally interesting is the word Jesus used for forgive. The word used for “forgive” is “aphiēmi”, which is defined “(to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eimi (to go)); to send forth, in various applications: - cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.” Sometimes people do things (not always intentionally) that really hurts us and we have a hard time “forgiving.” Jesus used an intensive form of a word for a reason. It's important. He didn't say is was always going to be easy, but He said it needs to be done. Simply do it! Lay aside the bitterness. Leave it. Let it alone. Send it away. Give it up. Forgive. You'll be amazed at how free you will feel and be when you release your brother from what he “owes.” It'll set you both free.


“...and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil...”

How interesting it is that Jesus would tell us to pray this way. James tells us in James 1:13-15, “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” Yet, Jesus tells us to pray to the Father that He lead us not into temptation. So, what's up with that??? Let me remind you that Jesus was “led into the wilderness” specifically to be “tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1 tells us, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Then verses two through ten tell how He was tempted. God Himself will never tempt us, but, yes, He will allow us to be tempted at times. Sometimes He will even allow the devil to tempt us to test us. Jesus is telling us straight up that the wilderness was no picnic. He even encourages us to pray for God not to lead us there.

Let me just say this. Temptations will come. Satan will do anything he can to get you to back off on your promise to God to serve Him and only Him for the rest of your life. He will throw you curves. He will use your fleshly nature to get you to sin against God and others. He will literally look for ways to trip you up. Regardless, the mind that is set on God is safe. God always gives us an escape route. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” But how do I tie into that “escape?” you ask. Romans 8:5-10 tells us, “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” It is our choice. Let us set our minds on the Spirit. After all, that's where life and peace are... it's an easy choice.


“...For Yous is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen...”

When we pray, we usually get centered in on what WE need, what WE want God to do, what WE think will fix our situation. Jesus is telling us quite clearly to get our focus right. We started our prayer declaring that God's Name is to be hallowed. We are told to end our prayer declaring that all that is belongs to Him. Jesus referred to the “Kingdom of God” fifty-one times. I've heard teachings that the “Kingdom of God” is within you” and how to bring the “Kingdom of God” into our presence and who knows how many teachings on the kingdom. What Jesus is telling us here is simple. The “kingdom” is God's. It is His Kingdom that we want on earth just as it is in heaven. What we think it should be doesn't matter. It is His and it is up to us to find His Will, His Kingdom, His Presence. And it is up to us to remember that it isn't our little niche in religion. It is His.

How many of us, especially those who see miracles and healings, want to make a mark on the church. We want people to know that when we pray, things happen. But it is His power that makes these things happen. It is His Glory we should be seeking. It is His Dominion that establishes every thing that is done. It is by Him and through Him that any worthwhile ministry happens. It should be His Power and His Glory that we should be promoting as we serve Him in His Kingdom. Earth's kingdoms are merely physical. His Kingdom will lead people into eternity.