Friday thoughts on the Lord's Prayer

*** The German original to this text was posted here yesterday.
Prof Hans Klein from Sibiu (Romania), who wrote the post, has been on our conference team for many years now and I have been able to go to him for wise advice often.

A sentence on the seven pleas of the Lord’s Prayer

Address: We call to Go das a father, aware of his mercy, who has chosen us as his children and so granted us the highest possible honour.

1st plea: This is instead of praise: we praise you, King of the world for the wonders you did to us human children.

2nd plea: we plead that God may set limits to any abuse of power, so that we may live in peace and justice and all creation be safe.

3rd plea: we pray that we may recognize the will of God and act accordingly.

4th plea: We pray for what is necessary for us, for all people – we pray for bread or the world.

5th plea: We beg forgiveness for all we have done wrong and even more for all that we have chosen not to do. The Text in Matthew has „debt“, meaning what we own others.

6th plea: We pray that we may be spared, that we may not fall into situations we cannot escape without sinning.

7th plea: We pray for deliverance of all entanglements in worldly dealings, where death and dear reign over us.

Praise: Our perspective is the certainly, that God will fulfil our pleas and that we will be in his care.