CD - The Conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer - Ephesians 3:20-21

Some have suggested that this ending to the Lord’s Prayer was intended to help distinguish who is who (among denominations) in a crowd. One persons ends at one point, another at a second point, and we Lutherans carry it out to the end. Although that might seem to be what happens, as we look at the conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer we see this is a fitting end. Not that God needs us to ascribe these things to Him, as He already has and knows He has the Kingdom, power and glory forever and ever, but that we acknowledge His power, glory and might. As we have said all the way through these petitions, it is not our praying that makes it so, but we pray to acknowledge what God does, to remind ourselves of what God does, and to give thanks to God for what He does for us.

It goes back to the question of why do we pray in the first place? We do not pray because God does not know what we want and need, He already knows all things. It is not that we pray because if we do not pray then He will not give us what we need or want. We know that God gives rain and food both to the believer and to the unbeliever alike. Unfortunately, this often spills over into our lack of praying altogether because we figure if God wants it for us, then He will know we need it and will give it to us. We pray because we need to pray (as if God would need anything from us). We pray because of our need to recognize that everything comes from God. We pray because of our need to respond and say “thank You,” for all His good gifts and blessings. We pray because God wants us to pray. He wants to hear from us. And He promises to hear us and to answer our prayers.

Paul’s words in the Ephesians reading remind us that, too often, we are not praying like we mean it. We are not praying believing the power of the Lord. How often are we reminded by the Word that “with God all things are possible,” “you have not because you ask not,” and “He is able to give us more than we ask or imagine.” What is it that we want? What is it that we need? What is it that we are taking to the Lord in prayer, or that we are not taking to Him in prayer? Just think what might be accomplished if we took God’s promises seriously and came to Him in prayer and prayed expecting great things?

God does great things, because Jesus earned great things for us on the cross. When we pray, we pray for bodily blessings as we have read. The most important thing, however, is to pray for spiritual blessings and for turning from evil. It is amazing what happens in the physical world when we get our spiritual world right.

And as always, we pray “Thy will be done.” And when we pray “Thy will be done,” we also pray that we will have the courage to accept God’s will, no matter what it is or what it means. Sometimes that is the harder part of praying. The key is to pray (in the first place).

Our Father, my Father, forgive me I forget to pray, when I neglect to pray, when I am to self confident, or to unbelieving to pray. Stir in my heart to pray always, without ceasing, to pray, praise and give thanks to You. And help me to pray boldly, trusting that you will answer my prayer according to what You know is best for me and according to Your good and gracious will. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.