In Matthew, Jesus taught us about prayer. He taught that prayer is not to be a time to show-off or repeat meaningless phrases. Prayer is a time to respond to God. Jesus taught His disciples to seek, acknowledge, believe, expect, receive and surrender to God’s love.
The Lord’s prayer shows us a picture of the SABERS cycle.
Matthew 6:9-13
“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.’]
Verse 9, Seek God—“Our Father who is in heaven”
Through prayer we seek and include God, who knows us, and wants relationship with us.
Verse 9, Acknowledge God—“Hallowed be Your name”
We acknowledge and honor God when we recognize He is holy, sacred, and set apart from us.
Verse 10, Believe God—“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
We believe and trust God as the sovereign, faithful, and omnipotent ruler over heaven and earth. We agree with God’s word that He does all He intends and His word will not return to Him void. (Is. 55:11)
Verses 11 and 12, Expect God—“Give us this day our daily bread”; “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”
We expect God to faithfully provide for our physical and spiritual needs in all circumstances.
Verse 13, Receive from God—“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
We receive God’s life-giving guidance and deliverance as we abide in the truth of God’s word and rely on the Holy Spirit within us.
Verse 13, Surrender to God—“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
All authority, power, and glory belong to God and we humbly surrender to Him as we walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7).
God is praised and honored as we wield our SABERS, cutting to the heart of response to Him. In His strength, we respond to God instead of react to circumstances.
Dear Father in heaven, You are the Almighty, the King of kings, and the One without limits or measure. You are righteous and just in all. Open our eyes to believe Your truth and expect Your faithfulness as we abide in You. Create the desire to surrender completely to Your love and purpose. Complete our hope and joy in Your radiant and satisfying peace and purpose. You are faithful and gracious in all. Cause Your love to overflow from our lives as we surrender to Your victory. Refresh and renew us as we progress through the SABERS cycle in response to You. All glory and honor to You, our Savior and Lord.