Can I say the Lord's Prayer?



I cannot say "Our",
if I live in a water-tight spiritual compartment;
if I think a special place in Heaven
is reserved for my denomination.

I cannot say "Father",
if I do not demonstrate the relationship in my daily life.

I cannot say "which art in Heaven",
if I am so occupied with the earth
that I am laying up no treasure there.

I cannot say "Hallowed be Thy Name",
if I, who am called by His name,
am not holy.

I cannot say "Thy Kingdom come",
if I am not doing all in my power
to hasten its coming.

I cannot say "Thy will be done",
if I am questioning, resentful of or disobedient
to His will for me.

I cannot say "on earth as it is in Heaven",
if I am not prepared to devote my life here
to His service.

I cannot say "Give us this day our daily bread",
if I?m living on past experiences.

I cannot say "forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us",
if I harbor a grudge against anyone.

I cannot say "Lead is not into temptation",
if I deliberately place myself,
or remain in a position
where I am likely to be tempted.

I cannot say "Deliver us from evil",
if I am not prepared to fight in the
spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer.

I cannot say "Thine is the Kingdom",
if I do not accord the King
the disciplined obedience of a loyal subject.

I cannot say "Thine is the power",
if I fear what men may do;
or what my neighbor may think.

I cannot say "Thine is the glory",
if I am seeking glory for myself.

I cannot say "Forever and forever",
if my horizon is bounded
by the things of time.

I cannot say "Amen",
if I do not also add, "Cost what it may,"
for to say this prayer will cost EVERYTHING.



"In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father, who art 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 trespassers,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever.
Amen."
Matthew 6:9-13

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves...
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty
and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer
but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed
in what he does.
James 1:22,25



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