After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto Thy Father which is in secret: and Thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (Mat 6:9-18)
Our Lord directs us to worship our Heavenly Father, to acknowledge His Holiness. To seek His will before our own, even as He provides our immediate needs. Then He teaches us of forgiveness and temptation, before coming back to His Kingdom which shall come. He further teaches about forgiving others so we may be forgiven. He also teaches that fasting should be done, not to appear 'spiritual', but to draw closer to GOD and seek Him.
Whatever spiritual disciplines we accomplish, should always be about Him. Our focus is not on ourselves, or to appear to others as anything in vainglory, but to seek our GOD and glorify Him. We are to die, daily, and to put on Christ, that others may see Him in us. We are to know His Word, and do His commands, not to be saved, or keep that which we already have in Salvation, or even as a license to sIn, but to become more like Him.
As we are blessed in obedience to Him, we are to minister to the hurting and in need, as His ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation. As we grow in Him from His Word and with love one to another, we are to disciple one another in the faith, and the knowledge of our Lord. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who will hear, and we are to live the Gospel we preach, so that by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, they may believe and have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet