THE LORD'S PRAYER Galatians 2:20

I cannot say 'our' if I live in a water-tight spiritual compartment.
I cannot say "Father' if I do not demonstrate the relationship in daily life.
I cannot say 'which art in heaven' if I am so occupied with the earth that I am laying up no treasure there.
I cannot say 'hallowed by Thy name' if I, who am called by His name, am not holy.
I cannot say 'Thy kingdom come' if I am not doing all in my power to hasten its coming.
I cannot say 'Thy will be done' if I am questioning, resentful of, or disobedient to His will for me.
I cannot say 'in earth, as it is in heaven' if I am not prepared to devote my life to His service.
I cannot say 'give us this day our daily bread' if I am living on past experience or if I am an under-the-counter shopper.
I cannot say 'forgive us our trepasses, as we forgive those who trepass against us' if I harbour a grudge against anyone.
I cannot say 'lead us not into temptation' if I deliberately place myself in a position to be tempted.
I cannot say 'deliver us from evil' if I am not prepared to fight it in the spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer.
I cannot say 'thine is the kingdom' if I do not accord the King the disciplined obedience of a loyal subject.
I cannot say 'thine is the power' if I fear what men may do or what my neighbours may thnk.
I cannot say 'thine is the glory' if I am seeking glory for myself.
I cannot say 'for ever' if my horizon is bounded by the things of time. The Christian Messenger