Day 7: God's Word and the Lord's Prayer

February 24, 2026

Day 7: God's Word and the Lord's Prayer

February 24

by Michael Lovett

Readings:

Isa 55:10-11

Matt 6:7-15

Reflection:

After reading the scriptures of the day, the video for today's devotional can be found HERE.

"Nothing is wasted, He works all things for good," in the Elevation Worship song, this lyric appears. It is a driving worship anthem that extols God's utter power, just as Isaiah describes God's statement about himself. God is not bragging; he is stating the truth. No words are useless; every word is living, active, and powerful to accomplish His will. Just like nature reflects that "there is a way things work", God is reinforcing this same truth.

The problem is, even if we assent to the idea that God's word is powerful, we don't live like it's true. We don't obey his word, let him lead, or sit down and simply be with him in trusting contemplation. We don't treat other people justly or uplift the cause of the poor, widows, oppressed, and those without parents. Our comfort is a force to be reckoned with. That's why God is speaking so clearly and boldly. God is AWESOME, and his word created the world! I encourage us all to sit with this truth and ask God to speak into our individual and communal lives today.

Matthew's gospel reading today holds the prayer Jesus taught US to pray. I emphasize US, because Jesus taught us to pray it from the WE point of view, not as an individual prayer.

Our Father - not our lord or celestial boss, Jesus addressed God directly and modeled it for us. Let us call God "Father."

In Heaven - God is in heaven, where his will is always done, it is perfect and never-ending

May your name be recognized as holy - this is the part of the prayer I love. We beg that there is deep respect for God's name, identity, and holiness relative to us. He deserves this reverence

Give us today our daily bread - especially in Lent, this is relevant. This is what we are after. Reliance on God alone, and letting our Lenten fast from whatever it may be (tv, media, sugar, food, cussing, gossip, etc.) turn us back to God.

Forgive us our debts ("trespasses" in another gospel, "sins", in another gospel) as we forgive our debtors. This is all about our relationships in the world and our spiritual community. This covers all of us, the offender (who needs forgiveness and should seek reconciliation) and the offended (who needs to forgive and also should seek reconciliation). We remember in Lent that iscost Jesus great suffering and his life to wash away our sins, and this prayer is a return to the reality and preciousness of that reality

Lead us not into temptation - a test is not a test unless it pushes you to your limits. So, we ask not to be tested to the tipping point of sinning.

But deliver us from evil - we need to pray this whole prayer and this part, especially. The goal is to see God as the hero and rescuer. And to see the Enemy for who he is, and what he is. There is actual, personal evil in the world. It is really powerful. An example would be tobacco companies that deliberately lace products to make them more addictive. Child trafficking is evil incarnate. We beg God to deliver us from evil. Only God and his people obeying him can overcome evil.

We must pray this prayer as a daily act of obedience to Jesus. He could not be clearer: "When you pray, say...[the prayer I model for you]."

Set a couple of alarms on your device and pray the Lord's prayer multiple times today. Depending on how it works for you, consider locking a couple of times every day. It's the little things. Nothing is wasted.