Now as I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord, my soul, to take.
A child’s prayer of simple words still comes to mind from my memory box. I do not recall why or when it started and stopped, that my mother knelt with me bedside and had me repeat as she spoke these words. Seldom were those nights. They were only words, no meaning, feeling, or explanation attached. Talk of God, religious discussions, and attending church never happened, except on four occasions, of which I remember none, the infant baptisms of my siblings and me by an officiating Minister of the United Church. My parents have a history, closely guarded with figurative lock & key, born of personal church experiences. My father, raised by a devout mother, claimed affiliation within the United Church of Canada. My mother’s religious training came from growing up in the Catholic tradition. They chose neither denomination for their married life and raising of four children. However, blessed with parents whose lives exemplify their priorities, values, and moral judgment, I think they unknowingly fostered spiritual yearnings in me. Then in public school, another prayer recited daily without explanation, feeling, or context cemented the foundational stonework of what would become, my hope, faith, and trust in God, his promises, and answers to heart stirrings. For many years though, into high school, they were simply words, and then they disappeared from school day opening exercises. Implanted into my memory, they emerged when I, at 14, recognized within myself a curiosity about religion. By 16, a burgeoning desire to understand the unseen realm called spirituality and its connection to religion found me researching and seeking answers. Little did I realize this was a quest utilizing unspoken, but recalled prayers from earlier days, and one predominately, when I knew little of Jesus Christ.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Something in the words and phrases spark a peaceful longing within me, a desire for closeness, serene communing with a loving father. My mind reverts to childhood days of wonder and the richness of feeling safe, secure, loved, and protected. What about this prayer evokes those feelings? In its simplicity, I fall under a spell of complicated ease. Words flow easily. I search for understanding. I have italicized some thoughts and words causing personal reflection, opinion, or interpretation as I liken scriptures unto myself.
Like a sandwich, the first two verses acknowledge reverence and power, as does the final phrase.
=>Who do we pray unto? Our Father–what a glorious, comforting truth!
=>What does it mean to ‘hallow’ something or someone? It means to make holy, consecrate, consider sacred, to venerate.
=>What does God’s kingdom look like?
=>What is God’s will?
=>What is the connection between earth and heaven? Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
=>What spiritual landscape do you observe in the words, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” I have not words to describe but in my eyes I see all those things that witness his hand in all things. I know what it feels like to me.
The filling comprises a mouthful, requiring wide opening of the strong jaw to bite into its goodness, symbolic of desire and humility.
Give us this day our daily bread.
=>What does this mean? Two particular scriptures come to mind as I contemplate.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3
“And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”
“And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.”
[Jesus quotes part of verse 3 while addressing his adversary after 40 days and nights of fasting in the wilderness. “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4]
John 6:35, 48
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.“
“I am that bread of life.”
Every day as I kneel in morning prayer, I ask for spiritual guidance and insight, but not until I have expressed my gratefulness for specific blessings received and the breath granted me to live another day. Before crawling into bed at night, I kneel with an emotive heart. My life’s happenings very much seem an epitome of Deuteronomy 8:2-3.
Since Alan died, I hunger in a manner never before experienced in my life. My prayers, whether forming in the abyss of emotional turmoil, soaring in resplendent joy, reverently standing still in solemn gratitude, or resting in peaceful moments of my heart, are voiced aloud morning and night, and continually full drawn in silent prayer throughout my waking hours. Sleeping unto the Lord, I seek dreams and visions, never questioning why. I often wake with a scripture or a hymn playing a soundtrack in my mind, my heaven sent manna experiences.
Shortly after his death, but before the funeral service on December 8, 2016, I woke most mornings to hear the first verse of a favourite hymn for many weeks. So familiar with the tune and words, I continued singing all verses. I wrote in my hymn book, that I mark like scriptures, “These words are comforting and my hope.” This hymn became very personal, a verbal expression of my faith in Christ, his sacrifice for me, and my prayer. Acknowledging the source of hope, strength, and trust, what he has done for me, my heart is lifted up and I pray for guidance to receive and live by his word.
Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King!
Triumphant over death, Life thou didst bring,
Leaving thy Father’s throne, On earth to live,
Thy work to do alone, Thy life to give.
While of this broken bread Humbly we eat,
Our thoughts to thee are led In rev’rence sweet.
Bruised, broken, torn for us On Calvary’s hill—
Thy suff’ring borne for us Lives with us still.
As to our lips the cup Gently we press,
Our hearts are lifted up; Thy name we bless!
Guide us where’er we go, Till in the end
Life evermore we’ll know Through thee, our Friend.
Text and music: Hugh W. Dougall, 1872–1963
Heart-engraved scriptures would follow. Foremost, always Isaiah 40:28-29, 31
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.”
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Even now, three years and less than six months later, it still happens. Those inspirational thoughts, and others when I need to remember the Lord leads, touch with the gentleness of pure white snowflakes. I ask for the daily bread that is a constant source of oxygenation for my life’s blood.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. A conditional plea.
=>How easy is it to forgive others? Yourself? No one, not even God, is harder on me than myself. So, forgiving myself is a major stumbling block, that needs a mighty pick, and an offense to God because His Son has already borne the burden of my sins. I am always in debt to Him.
Peter (my favourite) asks Jesus about forgiveness (How often do we have to do forgive someone?) whereupon Jesus responds; “Until seventy times seven.” =>Does he imply keeping track so we can stop?
=>What does forgiveness look like? I am slowly seeing what forgiving myself looks like. It looks like a clearing in a forest of trees high on the mountain top that allows me to see further than before, see details in the sun and shadows, and catch a view above the clouds.
=>How does forgiveness feel?
Sometimes we offend unknowingly or unintentionally. Sometimes we take offense when none is meant.
This parable provides the answer. You can view the video here or read below.
23 ¶ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Holy Bible, King James Version. Matthew 18
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Temptation, what an interesting, scripturally significant word. Our first introduction to temptation occurs in the Garden of Eden, and from then individual accounts never end, including Jesus in its scope.
=>Studying and pondering the experiences recorded in the Holy Bible, how do you interpret its meaning? (The recorded experiences are another discussion, just food for thought today.)
=>What is the source? From these words Jesus teaches us to use, are we to conclude that God leads us into temptation? I think not! Our choices, attitude, prejudices, judgments, interests, desires, priorities, wants, friendships, values, hopes, belief, and faith translate into action.
=>Why temptations? He gives us opportunities to prove our heart and mind through obedience, aids in course corrections, refines our character, and sanctifies our efforts through the trials of mortality.
=>What do they teach us?
=>What are the effects?
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
If I were facilitating a discussion, I would give you the opportunity to read the Lord’s Prayer three times in a row. First, I would invite you to read or silently recite, if you have it memorized. Secondly, I would encourage you to slowly re-read, pausing at every break–comma or period to think about the words you utter. For the final reading or recitation, I suggest listening for the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost to identify words catching your breath or heart’s attention. Then I would ask that you close your eyes, visualize your Father in Heaven face-to-face in conversation. How do you feel beside him? Letting your feelings guide your expression of specific needs –what bread (knowledge, guidance, attribute, characteristic, virtue), why/what/who needs forgiving (you? another?), what temptation (trial) do you need to overcome — are you able and willing to sincerely say, “Thy will be done”?
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
No longer do I wonder why my mother taught me that little prayer, or why I felt drawn to the Lord’s Prayer in school, the foundational stonework I learned to feel in time, rewritten now on the tablet of my heart.
Now as I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my dreams to keep.
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul will take.
Now as I wake to a new day,
I pray the Lord will be my stay.
And when I fall and scrape my knees,
I pray the Lord will hear my pleas.
I do not voice a specific prayer for certain conditions, circumstances, or situations. My communications with my Father in Heaven reverently address him. I empty my heart with gratitude before asking anything, sometimes barely able to breathe, pleading, according to my perceived needs, and remembering to include those I love. Never the same petition goes heavenward, though similarities do. Taking time to listen for promptings and quiet answers before I close in the name of Jesus Christ, who is my Redeemer and Savior, brings a spirit of peace, even if I still do not know my direction. I know He is aware and will safely guide me home to his kingdom where I will see anew, and stand awed in his presence, power and glory.
How does prayer feed your soul?
Life Happens. . . so do Prayers, What Lack I Yet, Swords and Shields, Rescues, the Shepherd, and Faith and Wholeness.
