Prayer: An Open Door For More
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:1-13 (KJV) emphasis mine
Our Father
Father is the Greek word Pater, which means a nourisher, protector, and upholder. Prayer is based on a relationship with your Heavenly Father. It is more than requesting that your needs be met. Prayer is communication and connection with the Father. It is one way we develop a deep, close, personal, and intimate relationship with God.
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Hallowed is the Greek word hagiazo, which means to make holy and signifies being set apart from sin and for God. God’s name is holy and sacred. It should We keep God’s name holy by the way we treat His name. We bless His name and we do not curse it. And we shouldn’t use it in slang language such as “Oh my God.” God’s name is to be honored. We also honor and make His name holy by the way we live. Those who truly love the Father will keep His name holy and honored.
Thy Kingdom Come. Thy Will Be Done.
Prayer enforces His kingdom and His rule over sin, satan, sickness, and all such things. We enforce God’s will by speaking out His Word and walking it out daily.
Give Us Day by Day Our Daily Bread.
God meets our daily needs (Philippians 4:19). The more we focus on the Father, the less need-minded we will be. We’re to be consumed with God, not needs.
Forgive Us Our Sins; For We Also Forgive Every One That Is Indebted To Us.
Sin is a debt, but Christ paid the debt and freed us. Let’s forgive and release others from a debt they can’t pay.
A Friend
We will ask a friend for something and we get it. How much more will our Father give to us, being closer to us than a friend is. We are to ask, seek, and knock to receive what we need. And we need to keep doing these things. The Greek bears this out. It actually could be translated as “ask and keep asking,” “seek and keep seeking,” and “knock and keep knocking.”
Good Gifts
When we ask our Heavenly Father for the Holy Spirit (after we are already saved and born of the Spirit), He will give the infilling of the Holy Spirit, or the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, 2:4).
Prayer
Prayer is the open door for more. Through communication and connection with our Father, we know Him and receive all He is and has.
