The Lord's Prayer - for the Lord's Glory

Our Father who is in heaven, 

Glorify your name.

May your kingdom come and your will be done

here on earth just like it is in heaven.

Provide for us today what we need, 

and forgive us for sinning against you -

just like we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

Don't let us be tempted today, 

but save us from the evil one who is trying to destroy us.

For the kingdom and power and glory are yours always and forever.

Amen.

How did Jesus tell us to pray? This way. We are to ask God to:

1. Glorify His name

2. Bring his kingdom to earth - make himself King here.

3. Provide for today's needs, so that we may live another day for His glory

4. Forgive us like we've forgiven others - so that he will be glorified in our lives

5. Save us from temptation and our enemy the evil one - so that we will not dishonor his name.

Basically, it's not about us. 

Because everything - the Kingdom of God, all power in heaven and earth, and all glory are the Lord's.

From beginning to end, this is a prayer for God's glory to be made known on the earth. "Glorify your name", "May your kingdom come" (He's the ultimate King by the way), "May your will be done", "For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever." Amen - so be it.

This has been God's goal all along, since the days of Adam and Eve and Abraham and David and Jesus and Paul and the early church up until now: To glorify Himself here on the earth. 

And in case you think that's a little egotistical and self-serving, you may be stepping a little bit outside of your realm of judgement. This is the God of the universe we're talking about. 

And do not forget that Jesus told us to pray to our Father in heaven and to ask Him for things as small and personal as daily bread. Because not only does the Lord desire to be glorifies and worshiped and honored and served throughout the whole earth (and he will be one day soon), but he also desires to care for us and to forgive and to save us like a good father cares for and forgives and saves his own beloved children.

May we join in with God's mission to glorify himself in all the earth. Because when He is, all that we long for and desire will be fulfilled as well. For our greatest glory is to give glory the one who is Everything.

For the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory are His forever and ever. 

Amen. May it be so.