WEEK THREE – FINAL THOUGHTS
Insights on The Model Prayer — Matthew 6: 5-14 (NIV)
(As a reference, this passage is repeated at the end of this section.)
NOTE TO GROUP LEADER: Insights on The Model Prayer Matthew 6: 5-14 (NIV) It is a time for personal reflection and to share our experiences and how they relate to the passage. Allow the group to consider if this exercise and discussion have provided clarity for our lives and how we live from day to day. Allow the discussion to flow freely so that individuals feel that they have been heard. Try to ensure that everyone had an opportunity to share. Do not insist that a person share but offer him or her the opportunity. The closing reflection and prayer may be read by the Group Leader, or one or two members of the group may be asked to read aloud. (Items needed: Closing Reflection, Closing Song, Discussion Questions):
Follow the order as indicated below:
- Closing Reflection
- Closing song with words
- Discussion Questions
- Repeat Closing Song (if group wishes)
Reflection and prayer:
No matter how hard we try, having a conversation with a friend, companion, or family member always leaves certain things unsaid, unrevealed because of the limitations of language or the lack of depth of understanding or the lack of time. This is never true when we truly have a conversation with God. God is all-knowing, all-understanding. As the passage says, “He knows what you need before you ask Him.” We might be able to lie to ourselves, but never to God. He knows us and loves us because of our imperfections, because of our weaknesses. He loves us as we are. When we have a conversation with Him, we don’t, or rather, can’t hide anything from Him. It’s refreshing and freeing to know that we don’t have to put up walls in talking with God.
But, even knowing all that, sometimes we can’t seem to find the words to talk with God. Jesus gave us The Lord’s Prayer/The Our Father for times such as these. It kick-starts our conversation and opens the door to communication. Each line of the Our Father brings us into a closer relationship and understanding of this being called God, this being who loves us and wants nothing but the best for us; this being who gave Himself for us, who suffered and died for us.
In our prayer below, let us reflect on The Lord’s Prayer, expand on it based on our own perspectives and needs and add to it if we feel that there is more to say…
Let us pray:
Our Father: You are my Father. As any good Father, you love me. You want the best for me,
You sacrifice for me (add other thoughts here) ……………
Who art in heaven: Sometimes, I feel so far away from you. Heaven seems such a distant place.
Yet, I know that you are here, in my heart, in my heavenly place (add other thoughts here) ……………
Hallowed by your name: You are holy. Your name is holy, beyond my comprehension. (add
other thoughts here) ……………
Your kingdom come: I am waiting for that special place, that perfect place of love. Sometimes I feel lost in this world. It can feel so harsh and painful. Your kingdom, on the other hand, will be blessed and beautiful. (add other thoughts here) ……………
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven: As my father, I know that what you want for me is the best for me here on earth and also in heaven. Sometimes I don’t understand you. Sometimes it feels like your will is completely contradictory to what I want or what I feel I need. Help me to release my will to you, because you know best. (add other thoughts here) ……………
Give us today our daily bread: Dear Lord, you know what I need daily. Today, I need you to help me deal with my pain, my loneliness, my physical hunger. What do you think I need, Lord? (add other thoughts here) ……………
Forgive us our debts: There are so many times that I have fallen short. I have hurt someone. I have neglected or forgotten someone. I have not reached out to those who have needed my love and attention. Please forgive me for all I have done, and not done, which has harmed someone else. (add other thoughts here) ……………
As we also have forgiven our debtors: Have I forgiven those who have harmed or offended me? Help me to forgive them and open myself to a new beginning with them. (add other thoughts here) ……………
And lead us not into temptation: Keep me from harm. Help me to battle my demons. Give me the strength to avoid those situations which can harm or offend you or my neighbors. (add other thoughts here) ……………
But deliver us from the evil one: Protect me from any evil, anything or anyone who wishes to harm me or causes me to stray from my focus on your love and your kingdom. (add other thoughts here) ……………
Amen. That’s it for now, Lord. There are so many thoughts I have, so many feelings, so many questions. I’ll save them for another day. (add other thoughts here) ……………
Closing song
THE PRAYER- Celine Dion & Josh Groban
Music uploaded & arranged by virj
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idtNxZYnxIw
I pray you’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer
When we lose our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe.
I pray we’ll find your light
I pray we’ll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night
When the stars go out each night
Remind us where you are.
Oohhh….
Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe.
[Together:]
A world where pain and
sorrow will be ended
And every heart that’s
broken will be mended
And we’ll remember we
are all God’s children
Reaching out to touch you
Reaching to the sky.
We ask that life be kind
We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above
And watch us from above
We hope each soul will find
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love
Another soul to love.
Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child.
Just like every child.
[Together :]
Needs to find a place
Guide us with your grace.
With your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
Needs to find a place
Guide us with your grace.
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
Closing reflection/discussion questions:
- What thoughts did you have as you read the final reflection? Can you identify with some of these thoughts and explain why or why not?
- What thoughts did you have as you heard the closing song?
- What does prayer mean for you?
- Do you pray? How do you pray? If you don’t pray, why not?
- Do the words of the Our Father have a stronger meaning for you as you reflected more on them? Explain.
- For personal contemplation: What is your prayer? What do you want to talk to God about?
- Reflect on the last three weeks of bible study. Share your spiritual and emotional journey. What questions did you have? What concerns did you address? Did you gain any insights or have questions answered? Did it raise new questions?
- Have these three weeks of Bible Study given you any sense of wellness, a sense of hope? If so, how? If not, why not?
Insights on The Model Prayer — Matthew 6: 5-14 (NIV)
Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.