In the Beginning

As some of you may know, I moved my blog here to "Blogger" because the site crashed on which I had previously had it.  This was my initial offering from May 2012.  I'm including it here simply because in it I share the rhyme and reason for starting this blog about prayer.  May it be for a blessing. ~y

This blog has been a long time coming -- the idea for it came to me years ago.  As with any commitment, for which my husband asks, "What are you willing to give up in order to assume this new responsibility?" I took a while to ponder the consequences of starting such a venture. And so, finally, we begin ...

A few years ago, frustrated at getting catapulted into my day without having time to pray, I thought that by having a blog in which I studied prayer, verbalized prayer and invited prayer, I might actually get around to praying on a regular basis.  Just like when the Temple in Jerusalem stood: the sacrifices and prayers were brought on time, every time. Over the intervening years, I've purchased prayer books with the thought of using them to springboard into my own conversations with Yah. I've read the Psalms; I've read the Scriptures looking for examples of prayer; and I've "beat myself up" .... and, oh, yes, I've prayed.  I've prayed in the car, I've prayed with friends, I've prayed with my husband.  I've prayed for rain, for wisdom, for healing, for provision, for 'special intentions' and more.  I've wrestled, travailed, cried out and groaned.  I've spoken to the Almighty as one speaks to a Dad, a Lover, a Friend and my King ... all the while hungry for more.

I don't know where you are in your walk. Heck, I don't really know where I am in my walk. What I mean is, I know where I've come from; I know where I want to go; but the reality is since we don't know the end of the beginning as YHVH does, we don't know all the twists and turns our lives will take until we take our last breaths.  All we can do is focus on what Yah wants from us and do our very best, confident that He will supply the grace and the strength to push through the adversities that will undoubtedly assail us. With that thought, let's look at the Disciples Prayer, found in Matthew 6:9-13. 

Our Father -- What comforting words!  He wants to be Daddy to us. Not just me; not just you; but all of us who inhabit the earth.  Daddies provide for their children, keep them safe, love and encourage them.  Daddy, Our Father.

Who art in heaven -- Heaven, the abode of the Almighty; Heaven, the place that completely complies with the Creator's will and thus experiences perfect peace.

Hallowed by Thy Name -- His Name is 'kadosh', a Hebrew word that means 'set-apart', not common.  We would say 'holy'.  He is so holy that even His Name is holy. We cannot fathom the intense purity and holiness that is YHVH / Yahweh.

Thy Kingdom come -- We say these words, but do we understand what we're asking? We're asking for YHVH's kingdom, in all its fullness, purity, holiness and majesty to manifest ... now, in our lifetime!

Thy Will Be Done -- Are we willing to completely release our own will and submit ourselves to Him to let His will be done?  This is such a personal emotional wrestling match! We are so used to having our own way!  We decide virtually everything about our lives: what to eat; what to wear; where we live; who our friends are and so forth.  What if every decision were submitted to YHVH?  What if we asked 'permission' to eat that cream puff or drink that coffee? Would we hear, "Yes, my child, go ahead" or is it more likely that we would be guided to fruit and pure water? What if we submitted ALL areas of our life to Him? What if that submission unleashed victories in our lives that we never knew were possible? Would we then let His will be done?

On earth as it is in Heaven -- YHVH's will is fully manifested in the heavenly realm.  In Heaven, all is perfect order and peace. It boggles my imagination to consider the soaring, infinite possibilities of what this earth would be like if this earth were completely submitted to YHVH's will.

Give us this day our daily bread -- Notice that we are not asking for a massive 401K, a mansion in the midst of 1000 acres, or a fleet of servants, houses and cars at our disposal.  We're asking for this day's bread. Provision, not riches. On another level, it is the "Bread of Life" Y'shua we are seeking. He is the physical embodiment of the entire Scriptures. Every prophecy is about Him. Every expectation is of Him.  Every daily rendezvous with our Father in prayer takes place because of Him. He is the Bridge back to the good graces of our Heavenly Father.  HalleluYah!

Forgive us our trespasses -- We all fall short of the mark.  In fact, that is what 'chet' the Hebrew word for sin means: missing the mark. We don't have to be raging rebellious renegades to be in trespasses -- having done wrong -- we just miss the mark.  May our Father in His mercy overlook our fragile will to do right and and "lead us into paths of righteousness for His Name's sake", as Psalm 23 says.

As we forgive those who have trespassed against us -- Oh! the innumerable times someone has taken a pin to our balloon!! It could be as simple as a look or an unanswered email or a forgotten anniversary. If we harbor all those resentments, not only do we do ourselves harm, physically and mentally, but we block the forgiveness that YHVH holds ready for us! Y'shua's last few words on the execution stake included a plea that His Father forgive us because we had no clue as to the scope of our transgression, sin and savagery to Him. By our sin, we all had a hand on the hammer that drove the nails.

Lead us not into temptation -- One version of this prayer says, 'Lead us not into hard testing'.  Every day we face tests as did our father Abraham.  Without knowing where he was going, Abraham left the only home he had ever known to follow the "Voice" of Yah. Without taking time to wallow in the grief of the impending loss of his son Yitzchak / Isaac, he saddled his donkey himself to take the son of the promise to Mt. Moriah to be a sacrifice to the "Voice" of the One who brought him to the Promised Land. May we never face such excruciatingly painful choices.  May we never be tested or tempted beyond our capacity to choose the right thing -- the will of the Most High Elohim.

But deliver us from evil -- This is the ultimate blessing, to be beyond the reach of our adversary, satan.  May he who roves about as a hungry lion seeking to destroy the flock of the Shepherd, be left hungry ... toothless and clawless.

For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever -- There is no other Elohim. YHVH is the Most High El, the Kingdom, power and glory belong to none else. At some future point, Messiah will be given the full measure of His authority as Ruler of this world during the 1000 year Messianic Age, at the end of which time He will hand this then perfected world over to our Father.

Amein -- This word means "I agree" or "So be it". And by uttering this word we give our full concurrence and compliance with the words Y'shua spoke as He taught His disciples. We have no rebuttal to His teaching us how to pray.

So, this concludes my initial offering.  May it be for a blessing to you and yours. I look forward to your comments and to praying with and for you. May YHVH bless and keep you!

Shalom, shalom --

Yocheved