THE LORD'S PRAYER


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 or not trusting him to provide for today's.

I cannot say "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass
against us," if I harbour 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
neighbour 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.

---unknown


Or another version:

I cannot pray "OUR" if my faith has no room for others and their need.

I cannot pray "FATHER" if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.

I cannot pray "WHO ART IN HEAVEN" if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.

I cannot pray "HALLOWED BE THY NAME" if I am not striving for God's help to be holy.

I cannot pray "THY KINGDOM COME" if I am unwilling to accept God's rule in my life.

I cannot pray "THY WILL BE DONE" if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.

I cannot pray "IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN" unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's service here and now.

I cannot pray "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD" without expending honest effort for it or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread I receive.

I cannot pray "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US" if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.

I cannot pray "LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION" if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.

I cannot pray "DELIVER US FROM EVIL" if I am not prepared to fight with my life and my prayer.

I cannot pray "THINE IS THE KINGDOM" if I am unwilling to obey the King.

I cannot pray "THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY" if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.

I cannot pray "FOREVER AND EVER" if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.

I cannot pray "AMEN" unless I honestly say, "Not MY will, but THY will be done, so let it be.

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be ye not therefore like unto them; for 
your heavenly Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him." Matthew 6:7-8