The power and impact behind The Lord’s Prayer

The power and impact behind The Lord’s Prayer 

In Luke 11:1 the Bible tells us of the request made by the Disciples, to teach them to pray. They must have observed and concluded, that the power they had experienced in Jesus’ ministry must have something to do with prayer.  They did a lot of things together with him but had seen him go into secluded prayer by himself many times.  They had seen him walk and speak with authority in what we would call “authority of the believer” today.

Jesus’ Actions with Impact

Prior to giving the disciples “The Lord’s Prayer” as we know it , Jesus demonstrated such overwhelming authority in various situations. He rebuked the storm into calm (Luke 8:24)  and then commanded a legion of demons to leave a man shortly thereafter ( Luke 8:29-31 ).  Jesus told the delivered man to tell others of what God had done, that is to “hallow God’s Name”; he showed physical deliverance to the woman with a blood issue instantly and exercised sovereignty over death with Jarius’ daughter who had died.

He showed his ability to provide for bodily needs, after looking to heaven and thanking God,  by feeding five thousand people with only five loaves and 2 fish. ( Luke 9:10-17 ). Jesus then taught us how letting his Kingdom come among us is as simple as receiving little children (Luke 9:48. ). He went on to demonstrate mercy and forgiveness when he  rebuked two of his disciples who wanted to call down fire on those they disagreed with.  

After observing all this the disciples were convinced the secret was in prayer, so they asked their teacher to  teach them to also “Pray With Impact”.

The Lord’s Prayer With Impact

Jesus’s answer  was what we call The Lord’s Prayer today. As we examine Jesus’ instructions in this prayer from a deeper spiritual sense, we see Jesus instructing them through 7 petitions that can further be broken down into 3 areas of focus. These  three areas show us the necessity of cohesiveness or oneness between God, the individual self and others if we are to Pray With Impact.

From the chart above we see Jesus: (1) Establish the superior position of God as the Father. (2) He establishes the necessity of honoring (hallow) God’s Name, establishing His Kingdom and will on earth. (3)Demonstrates our dependence on him for our sustenance, character and relationship with others. When we understand who we are in relationship to God, and others, we can then follow these principles to Pray With Impact. 

Impact Prayer

Lord teach us to pray even as you and John taught your Disciples that we may pray with impact, in your precious Name we ask you. 

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