Pray Then Like This:

Welcome! There are next to no comments from me today. We have just our Scripture readings, instructions from the Small Catechism, and a hymn as our prayer (Nothing I add will benefit such a wonderful study). Today we are instructed in Matthew 6 not to worry, but rather to trust that God provides. As we focus on the Lord's Prayer, Luther spells out clearly for us this provision of God. May God bless our study.

Read Psalm 53

Matthew 6

Quotes from the Small Catechism concerning the Lord's Prayer:

"God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are his true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father."

"God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving...Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body...."

"We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us."

"I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, amen means 'yes, yes, it shall be so.'"

Ask yourself:

How is God's will done in my life?

How is God's name kept holy in my life?

How does God's kingdom come to me?

(hint: Luther gives some "answers" to these questions in the Small Catechism. However, I challenge you to go one step further and see how that applies to YOUR INDIVIDUAL lives.)

Pray:

Our Father, who from heav'n above
Bids all of us to live in love
As members of one family
And pray to you in unity,
Teach us no thoughtless words to say
But from our inmost hearts to pray.

From evil, Lord, deliver us;
The times and days are perilous.
Redeem us from eternal death,
And, when we yield our dying breath,
Console us, grant us calm release,
And take our souls to You in peace.

Amen, that is, so shall it be.
Make strong our faith in You, that we
May doubt not but with trust believe
That what we ask we shall receive.
Thus in your name and at Your Word
We say, "Amen, O hear us, Lord!"

(LSB 766:1, 8-9, Public Domain)

Study with me tomorrow,

Pastor Jon

Soli Deo Gloria!