by Letha Grayson

In all my years, I’ve known the Lord’s Prayer.  I’ve heard the Lord’s Prayer my whole life. I’ve been saved since I was 6.  But until now, I never understood what it meant.

My focus was just in praying.  When I pray the Lord’s prayer, my focus was always on what was written.  And I felt like I had to say everything exactly how it is written in order for it to be effective.  But just until now after hearing Pastor Ray (Mills of Praise and Worship Church teach the Lord’s Prayer, I just found out that the focus is not on what is written.  It’s on understanding  what is written and having the mindset and understanding of what is written.

When Jesus says “Our Father” and when I pray and I say Our Father,  I see the focus is not on the word “Our Father”.  The focus is on the fact that Jesus is saying your father and mine. God is as much your father as He is my father.  My focus is now on the fact that Jesus is truly my brother.  God is the father of us both.

Another part of the Lord’s Prayer says God’s name is holy or hallowed be thy name.  My focus is no you are Jehovah Nissi (the Lord is my banner).  You are Jehovah Rapha (the Lord is my healer).  You are Jehovah Jireh (the Lord who provides).   You are Jehovah Shalom (the Lord is Peace).  So that tells me now that my focus when I say hallowed be thy name, I’m saying you are everything I need to get me through every day.

The focus in short is not on what’s written; you have to understand what you are saying . The power is in understanding what is written.  This is such a blessing.  When you go before the Lord with that mindset that He is all that you need, He is your Father, Christ is your brother, there is power in that prayer because you believe it.