- araratchurch
- Jun 23, 2025
- 3 min read
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV
David had done the unthinkable. He had fallen into sin. And now—to cover his sin—he had ordered circumstances that would lead to Uriah‘s death.
The Prophet Nathan had just confronted David with his sin by offering a scenario illustrating what he had done. Upon realizing the severity of his failure, David turns to the Lord for forgiveness and restoration.
“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”
Psalms 51:1-3, 7-8, 10, 12 NLT
If you are familiar with the story, you will know that the Lord did forgive him. There were consequences; but the Lord forgave him.
“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”
Psalms 51:17 NLT
Indeed, David knew that he would be forgiven because he knew the nature of his heavenly Father.
The great news is that David’s heavenly Father is also our heavenly Father. The Lord wants to forgive us. He wants us to start each day with a clean slate.
Imagine if we never bathed our bodies, brushed our teeth, practiced basic good hygiene, what a mess we’d be in and may suffer because of it.
Yet, we may let the circumstances of life, and yes, our own failings, our own sin, pile up in such a way that we’re always facing every new day with residue from the days, months, and years, we’ve lived before.
For today’s portion of the Lord‘s prayer we consider: “And forgive us our debts.” Bear in mind that this is said after asking for daily bread. And, as we discussed, our provision is on a daily basis.
The Lord then instructs that we ask for forgiveness. This is also done on a daily basis to make sure there’s nothing between our soul and our Savior, to truly be able to start each day with a clean slate before God.
Child of God, don’t live another moment without asking the Lord to forgive you. You don’t have to worry about whether He will forgive you or not. As John said:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
I John 1:9 NKJV
Remember, God wants to forgive us!
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”
Isaiah 1:18 NLT
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jun 21, 2025
- 3 min read
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV
The children of Israel had come out of Egypt and were being led through the wilderness. They rose up against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of bringing them out into the wilderness to die. The Lord, hearing their complaint, told Moses that He was going to do this:
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.””
Exodus 16:4-5 NKJV
The Lord would bring the people manna in the morning and quail in the evening. The only thing He required, the only restriction He imposed, was that they only gather enough manna for what they needed for one day. The exception was that on the sixth day, they could gather a double portion so that they didn’t labor on the Sabbath.
However, just that little requirement proved to be too much for some of the people and they gathered more manna than what they could eat in one day, leaving it overnight.
“And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.”
Exodus 16:19-20 NKJV
Yes, you would think that people who saw the Lord giving them bread from heaven every morning, and having quail come right into their camp every evening, would be able to trust Him to do this every day. But some still could not trust Him, deciding to follow their own rules, with terrible results.
Notice, the Lord told Moses that He was making this requirement of only gathering for one day, “that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.” Yes, they were to learn to trust the Lord for their daily needs, but they must also learn to obey Him.
In today’s portion of the Lord‘s prayer we look at these three words: “our daily bread.” The Lord wants us to be content with His supply for today.
Now, could the Lord somehow bestow on us all we would ever need for any of our needs that might present themselves? Of course He could. But part of Him growing us up into His children, is helping us to learn to trust Him.
You see, the Lord is our Provider. And, no matter what the Lord uses to bring what we need, He is the source from which it came.
Last time we talked about not borrowing trouble. Today we focus on trusting the Lord, no matter what may come our way.
Indeed, our trust in Him is expressed by being content to have our daily needs met, not requiring some tangible evidence of our assured supply.
Having said that, I will tell you that the Lord has actually given us the assurance of an endless supply. What he has given us is His word. Therefore, if we believe Him, if we believe that He is a good Father Who wants to do good things for us, if we believe the promises He has made, the assurances He has sealed with His own body and blood, then we need never have anxiety concerning whether we’re going to have what we need in any area of our life.
You see, the source of all things has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. If we are with Him, if He is with us, we have—and will have—what we need. That’s what the Lord wants us to know when we confidently ask, “Give us this day, our daily bread.”
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jun 20, 2025
- 2 min read
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV
Most of us have heard the phrase, “borrowing trouble.” Even more than just having heard that phrase, we tend to identify with often living that way.
Yes, the tendency to try to manage all contingencies is ubiquitous. Ironically, when obsessed with operating in this way, we often plan for something that never happens. Yet at the same time, are caught off guard by something we did not see coming.
Jesus, after pointing out how the Lord looks after all creatures and all creation, reminds that if that’s the case for the “lower” part of creation, how much more is it true that God will take care of His children? He sums up His point with this:
““So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers,” but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Matthew 6:31-34 NLT
Notice, Jesus basically says that worry is for unbelievers, not for those who do believe. Believe what? Those who believe that God, as our heavenly Father, knows what we will face, what we will need, and will take care of us.
Now, none of this means that we don’t plan. But it does mean that we shouldn’t borrow trouble and spend our energy worrying about things over which we have no control, or things fear is speaking to us.
Today we consider just two words in the Lord’s prayer: “this day.” The Lord wants us to trust Him for today and for what’s coming ahead. He is not limited by time. He knows the end from the beginning. So, let’s not allow tomorrow’s possible trouble to steal our peace in this day.
Indeed, the Lord knows what’s coming. If we are listening to His Spirit and living for Him, He won’t let us be caught off guard or be unprepared for tomorrow.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!