I cannot say
"Our", if I live in a watertight
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 realtionship in my daily life.
I
cannot say "Which are in Heaven",
if I am so occupied with
earth that I am not
laying up treasure over there.
I
cannot say, "Hallowed be they name", if I,
who am called
by His name, am not holy
I cannot say "Thy will be
done", if I am
questioning resentful,
or disobedient
to His will for me.
I cannot say "Give us this day our
daily bread,",
if I am living on past
experiences.
I cannot say "Forgive us our debts,
as
we forgive our debtors",
if I harbor a
grudge against
anyone.
I cannot say "Lead us not into
temptation",
if I deliberately place myself or
remain
in a
position where I am likey to be tempted.
I
cannot say, "Deliver us from evil", if I am not
prepared to
fight it in a spiritual realm with
the weapon of
prayer.
I cannot say, "Thine is the Kingdom", if I
don't
give the King the disciplined obedience
of a
loyal subject.
I cannot say "Thine is the ...glory", if
I
am seeking glory for myself.
I cannot say
"Forever", if my horizons are
bound of things of
time.
I cannot say "Amen", if I do not also
add,
"Cost what it may", for to say this
prayer
honestly...will cost everything.
by Brother
W. M. Gass
(Acts 29)
