Thursday, August 23, 2007

For Thine is the Kingdom and the Glory and the Power, Forever and Ever. Amen.

This final portion of the Lord's Prayer is an addendum that a minority of people say when reciting the prayer. But it's an important part of the prayer, as we basically tell God why He should hear and answer the pleas we made previously. It's like this:

God, our Father in Heaven, You are holy, and we desire that Your name be exalted and magnified to the highest of hallowing. We desire for Your will to be done in our lives and for Your Kingdom to come to us here where we are, just as Your will is done in heaven, and just as Your Kingdom exists in heaven. We pray that You, O God of glory, would give us everything we need to make through this day, for we acknowledge that You know what we need and must provide these things in order for us to be sustained. And Lord we humbly bow before You in acknowledgement of our sinfulness, and we ask for Your forgiveness. We want You to transform us from our sinful state into the image of Your Son Jesus. And we want You to create in us a forgiving heart, for we ought to serve in this world as examples of the abundant forgiveness that You grant us. So forgive us as we forgive others who sin against us. And Lord, we ask that You lead us. Do not drive us, but lead us. And keep us from temptation. Deliver us from the evil one; build up the hedge of protection that You have made for us. We all like sheep have gone astray, but we remain in Your fold. Build fences to keep us close to You, and to keep the wolves out. Finally, do all of this and more because You can. You are able, for Yours is the entire Kingdom, all the glory, and all the power. You alone are able to do these things, and we know that You are willing - not simply for us, not solely out of love for us, but primarily for Your glory and the exaltation of You name among the nations of the world. Then they will know that You are the Lord. Amen - all this is true, so let it be true. Amen.

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