Teach Me to Pray: Hallowed be Thy Name

Have you ever found yourself gazing off in the distance, unable to find words to express the beauty of the sunset painting the sky before you? Colors of the spectrum blend together with such perfection and array that every shade of gold, orange, blue, and white stretched across the canvas. And as you watched, the glowing center dipped behind the horizon, leaving behind a slight chill but a sweet sigh of satisfaction that another day was finished, complete with a fireworks display no man could replicate.

As I reminisce over pictures taken of the North Carolina sunsets on family vacations, I am awed by the majesty and splendor of the moment. There's something about each night, waiting for the sun to begin its descent, that captivates my attention. Awe doesn't begin to describe it, but it's currently the only word I have available. This makes me wonder about Isaiah, the prophet, when he had a vision of the temple:

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"

~ Isaiah 6:1-3 ~

Avon, NC -- Atlantic Ocean

I am certain Isaiah's reaction to seeing the LORD was more intense than mine over a sunset. Imagine. God sitting on His throne in all His glory, train of His robe filling the temple, the angels covering their faces and feet, the temple's foundations shaking at His voice, and you're lying facedown, trembling at the weight of the glory surrounding you. In fact, he cried out, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

He was undone. But the seraphim came and touched his lips with burning coal from the altar to cleanse his lips and take away his guilt (Isaiah 6:6-7).

With this imagery in mind, let's look at the Lord's Prayer for a moment.

Our Father in heaven, 

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one. 

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

~ Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV ~

Encounters with the Lord in worship are like watching a sunset over the Atlantic daily.

None are the same.

All are breathtaking.

Now, let's talk about the train of God's robe. Isaiah says it filled the temple.

Why is this significant?

Whenever a royal is crowned during coronation, there are about six robes the royal will don for the ceremony. Upon entry into the Abbey, the monarch wears the Robe of State, which for Queen Elizabeth II, it was 14' in length. This would also be worn at State Openings of Parliament. After the monarch takes oaths to serve their country and the church, they go through other ceremonies such as Anointing, Investiture, Crowning, and finally the Closing. The final robe worn is the Robe of Estate, which is much more ornate and longer than the Robe of State. Queen Elizabeth's robe was completed by 12 seamstresses over the course of 3,500 hours. (Follow the links below for pictures of these magnificent pieces.)

As incredible as the coronation robes are for the king and queen of England, there is a piece of information we need to understand. Queen Elizabeth's Robe of Estate measured approximately 21' in length, weighing 15lbs. Several someones had to help carry this train for the newly crowned queen. It has been said that the length of the monarch's train indicates rank. So the longer the train, the higher the rank.

Now, let's look back at Isaiah's vision. The train of His robe filled the temple. 

Courtesy Google Images

This awe-inspiring description of the Lord is where I become acutely aware of how little I can do to measure up to him. And yet, He chose to redeem me. And you.

This knowledge is what brings us to know that we can confidently call Him Father in heaven.

As I searched to learn the definition of a father, I couldn't find a dictionary able to give a definition other than author, progenitor,  or male parent. A search of Scripture, we can learn that a good father has at least 14 character traits:

He leads as the family's spiritual head

1. A good husband (1 Peter 3:7)

2. A protector of his marriage (Matthew 19:6)

3. A promoter of God's word in the home (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)

4. A leader for his family to serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; 2 Timothy 1:6-7)

5. He fears the Lord (Proverbs 14:26; Job 1:4-5)

6. He encourages his children (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

7. He is prayerful (Philippians 4:6)

8. He is compassionate to his children and treats them with grace (Luke 15:20; 1 Timothy 5:8)

He guides his children

9. He is a role model to them (Titus 2:7-8)

10. He disciplines them (Proverbs 3:11-12)

He desires good things for the family

11. He gives his children what is good for them (Luke 11:11-13)

12. He works with excellence (Colossians 3:23)

13. He trains his children in a righteous way (Proverbs 22:6)

14. He secures them with love (1 Corinthians 13:7)

All of these attributes we can see throughout Scripture in the descriptors of God as creator, author, Father, provider, protector, leader, teacher, etc. James 1:17 tells us all good and perfect gifts come from our Father above. Psalm 18:30 assures us that God is a shield to those who put their trust in him, who take refuge in him. Galatians (4:6-7) and Romans (8:15) tell us that because we have been adopted into the kingdom of God, we can know him as Abba (Papa), Father God.

So we can begin our Lord's model prayer, knowing him as Father, the one who protects, provides, and surrounds us in security. In Him we are safe, although it may not feel it sometimes. And because we are safe in His care, we can honor his most holy, name in awe and wonder, knowing that whatever we ask Him, he already knows our need and has a plan for our provision. We may not understand or see the answer as it comes, but we can always trust that He will not fail. He does not lie. He cannot make a mistake. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present, everywhere.

When we pray, we are talking with One who is beyond comprehension, but intimate enough to heal our broken soul.

Come and worship Him with me.

In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Until next week. 💝 Karlene J 💝

Everything You Need to Know About the Royal Coronation Robes

The Royal Coronation Robes

What Does The Word Holy Mean? Bible Definition of Holy

 

Teach Me to Pray: Don't Be Like Them

What would happen to the Church if the Lord's Prayer became a test for membership as thoroughly as the Creeds have been? (P.T. Forsyth, The Soul of Prayer)

In the early days of our walk with Christ, we find ourselves on a learning curve like no other. It's part of the "rebirth" process that Jesus talked about in his discussion with Nicodemus. A man must be born again to see the kingdom of God.

Like immersing in a new and unfamiliar culture, we learn that life is the same, but different. Language is new. Habits begin to change. Our thoughts become less cynical and more filled with hope for the future. We begin to think about how to learn more about God, prayer, fasting, and well ... everything. It's all new. 

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I have talked with many new Christians who have wondered how to choose good books, teachers, Bibles, and wanted someone to teach them to pray and hear from God. It's not anything new to Jesus, whose disciples were with him 24/7 for three years. 

And yet, we are told in Luke's gospel that one of the disciples asked Jesus, "Teach us to pray, like John taught his disciples."

What an amazing teacher, that Jesus didn't scorn them for asking for help, but turned this opportunity into a lesson on communication with the Father.

To begin His lesson, though, he had to lay some ground rules. He was about to give them a model prayer, and needed to establish the proper etiquette. In my mind, it is like a person who says, "Sure, I'll tell you the secret of the sauce, but first ..." and in anticipation of exciting nuggets of wisdom, he says the following:

"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. and your Father who sees in secret will reward you (openly)" (Matthew 6: 5-6).

As one who tends to overthink and want understanding, as one who also finds herself asking the same question--often scripture repetition in the form of prayer--I find myself asking questions.

    1. What does it mean to pray like a hypocrite, today?

    2. Is it wrong to recite prewritten prayers?

    3. How can I be sure I am not engaging in vain repetition?

In my desire to understand, I found some prewritten prayers. I will share one of them:

Powerful Prayer for Opening Worship

Oh God Almighty, You deserve all praises because You are the God who never fails His promises. We gather here today, giving thanks and praising Your excellency. Though we fail severally and in different ways, You have at no time turned Your back on us, Father. We cannot count the blessings You've poured into our everyday lives. As we prepare to learn Your word, may You fill our hearts and minds with knowledge and understanding. In Jesus' name, Amen.

At its core, there is nothing wrong with this prayer. It is solid. It's not a prayer for salvation or protection like these following Scriptures:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. he leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. ~Psalm 23

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. ~Psalm 51:10-12

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. ~Psalm 103:1-5

Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O LORD my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. ~Psalm 86:11-12

These are Scripture. There is nothing wrong with reciting them in prayer. There are many portions of Scripture that, if prayed, will in fact be praying God's will. For instance:

The LORD is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. ~ 2 Peter 3:9

So, what's the problem, you ask?

It's a matter of the heart. Faith. 

James warned us against doubting when asking for wisdom, saying "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the LORD; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. ~James 1:5-8

The best way I could describe a wave of the sea is how it felt to be taken by a wave and tossed back to shore again. I couldn't get my footing. When I tried to stand, it pulled me under. I swallowed more salt water than I cared to. I had no control and had this lasted longer than the 30 seconds that it did, I would have panicked and potentially become injured.

Jesus also called out Pharisees for their hypocrisy in Matthew 15:1-9 when they asked Him why His disciples didn't wash their hands before eating bread. Then Jesus' response, "Why do you transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?" He addressed their insistence on imposing laws and traditions but failed to honor God's laws. Jesus ended his discourse with, "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying: These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."

Friends, being repetitious is not the problem. Faithless expressions of prayer, are.

James 5:16-18 tells us that the "effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Jesus told parables, one of which involved an unrighteous judge and a widow seeking justice. The judge gave justice due to her impertinence, not his own kindness. "And the LORD said, 'Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?'" ~Luke 18:1-8

At the end of the day, when Amens are said, we know the LORD weighs the heart. If we experience doubt, confess it to the LORD, and say, "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief." ~Mark 9:24

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The important thing to remember is FAITH. 

Do you believe God's word is true?

All of it?

Then whenever doubt whispers in our ears, take that Word and search it. What does it say about the words of doubt?

Example: Financial provision. How will we pay the bills and provide food and clothes? Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

With these final words, I leave you until next time:

But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. ~Hebrews 11:6

Imposter Syndrome

He sat across the table from me, listening. Waiting. By his demeanor, it appeared he was interested in hearing about my experiences as a student and then graduate nurse.

I paused.

Elegant Masquerade

"You have imposter syndrome."

Of course, I wasn't an imposter. By its very definition, pretending to be something you're not to deceive others was not what I was doing. But on the same token, his simple, 4-word statement made me pause and reflect. He went on to explain his point of view and described the emotional upheaval I had endured throughout the nightmarish years of nursing school and getting my footing as a graduate nurse. 

As if on cue, the words "Who do you think you are?" swirled about between my ears.

This question had imprinted itself on the fabric of my mind for years, emblazened by critical remarks by people I respected and loved. I knew I would never amount to a nickel's worth of value. And so did everyone around me. So I invented and reinvented myself. I let dreams go and clung to what must get me through.

At one point, knowing I needed to work to pay bills, I pushed myself to find a job. So I walked to a popular store down the road from my home and applied. During the interview, the question, "Why do you want to work for us?"

"Because, I'm a student, and want a job where I don't have to think," tumbled off my tongue before I could think it through. But they offered me a position. And a few days later, I was introduced to my coworkers, "This is Anna."

As previously stated, I tried to reinvent myself. Taking a variation of my middle name would help, right?

For nearly 2 years, I remained hidden behind a different name. But friends on the other side of the screen would tell me, "You'll always be Karls to me. It feels like reaching across the miles with a warm hug."

I forced my mind to return to the room where my friend and I were talking. He was right. I have always felt like an imposter. Always afraid someone would call me out on it and I would be condemned to oblivion. This fear always kept me in the shadows, on the sidelines, fighting back anxiety attacks whenever walking into a room full of people alone.

But I have a secret. It's something I get to share with you.

We have a Savior who is God's Son, the Word of Life, who knows all there is to know about us. Not one word said to or about us has escaped His attention. And He is our vindicator. He is our shield and our banner. It is He whom all will give answer to regarding every careless or hurtful word said regarding us. Psalm 139: 1-6 tells us:

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down,

and are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue, 

But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

We can change our name. We can go into witness protection. We can hide out in our homes or change our address. There's no place we can go that He is not already there.

This is not to strike fear in our hearts, but rather comfort. He is our Father. Our good Father, who will avenge evil done against us.

He knows how to care for us, because Psalm 139: 13-16 tells us: 

For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

When I was made in the secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

In Jeremiah, God told the young prophet "Before I formed you in your mother's womb I knew you; before. you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations," (Jeremiah 1: 5).

You and I may not have been ordained prophets, but we were formed by God in our mother's womb. He planned out each day. He knew what would cross our paths. He is not surprised by the heartache we face, or the triumphs we experience. I like to think this is why He goes before us and behind us, so that He's there when we arrive to comfort and cheer. And He's also there behind to make sure we don't become lost and so discouraged we give up.

The other day, I was thinking about this when I heard CeCe Winans' acceptance speech for artist of the year. We can win the accolades of people. We can be cancelled by the media giants. We can sit on thrones, or in dungeons. But God knows us by our relationship with Him.

God knows ...

Who we are in Christ matters more than who people think we are 💖💝.

I will leave you with her words. 

Until next time. Karlene J 💜💜

A Night and Day Difference

... weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. ~Psalm 30: 5b

I was tired. My feet hurt. In fact, my entire body ached from fatigue and tension from sitting on an airplane. I was anxious to find my hotel, shower, and sleep ... after a quick trip to the Eiffel Tower. 

But how often do we plan something and find ourselves taking a different path?

Upon arrival to Charles deGaul airport, I found an airport representative who could give me directions to the train station that would transport me to my hotel. With my permission, she typed instructions into the notepad on my phone.

Follow the signs to Border Control down the escalator, then follow further signs for the train station. There'll be 2 trains. The first to terminal K then the next to Parking lot ... 

Easy, right?

Over 2 hours later, I found myself instructing my body to take another step. Keep walking. Just a few steps more. It won't be long now.

But deep within, my heart beat wildly. I was exhausted. A man had decided to follow me around, asking strange questions about my hotel and how many beds ... I was increasingly uncomfortable and hoping he would lose his way. Which, I confess, I asked the Lord for. And He answered. 

But I was still wandering about, taking escalators, weary and in pain. In the end, it took a custodian to show me the way to the train station I searched for. (Lord bless those essential workers.

And he did.

I learned I wasn't the only American hoping for a kind individual to offer assistance. We found our train and rode it to our designated stops. Then the search began again. But outside this time. At 10pm.

I wanted to turn back and settle in on a bench at the airport. Although the hotel was paid for, it wasn't worth the energy anymore.

But I felt nudged to continue across a drive, where I rounded a corner, and there it was. My lodging for the night. After paying the remaining tax balance on the room, grabbing a Pepsi and a water, I headed to my room and settled in for rest. It was apparent that a trip to the Eiffel Tower would have to wait for another adventure into the country.

 In the morning, rested and decidedly heading back to the airport, I stopped into the lobby for breakfast. I was drawn to the window where the sun warmed the seats and tables in the morning. The scenery outside was so inviting. 

Not a cloud in the sky. Children played at the park across the courtyard. And a look to the right, and I could see the train station I had come from the night before. Maybe a block from my hotel's front door. I pulled out my phone and was able to map directions to my gate from where I sat ... 3.1 miles walking distance. The guest service attendant told me I could take a door-to-door shuttle for a price, but the train was free. I was not opposed to free. Preferred it, actually.

So I made my way back. Directions in hand, along with the light of day, I was prepared for the trek. 

It is amazing how differently the situation looked in the morning light.

As the days passed, I thought about this journey. In the morning, the feelings of fear and abandonment. I have become keenly aware of how near to me God was the entire trip overseas. And there are a few lessons I am learning.

First, when we are in the darkness of our circumstances, and we can't see any light in our tunnel, we can be assured that God is with us. His Word is our light (Psalm 119:105). We can stand on His promise when He says, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). And then this is repeated, "And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8). 

Now I have heard it said that for something to be repeated twice in Scripture, it's like an exclamation point at the end of a sentence. He means it.

So we can take this promise and cling to it as a light in our darkness, whatever it may be.

Second, I was followed by someone who may or may not have had pure intentions. I didn't want to find out, and the Lord heard my cry for help.

This was an instance of His protection that I am aware of. How often does He move to protect us that we don't know?

💝 We can praise Him for every unseen and seen moment of His intervention. 💝

Until next time, Karlene J 💕