During the season of Lent, giving something up is a common practice, but I generally like to add something into my life to help me become more focused on God. This year, I’ve decided to add something simple, but I think it will help me to stay focused on the purpose of this practice, and that is the love that Jesus has for me.
I am not the best at time management, so I’m setting myself up for success by setting an alarm for the same time each day until Easter to remind me to pause in whatever I’m doing and pray The Lord’s Prayer. I know it might not seem like much, but some of the people I look up to most in life have repeated to me time and time again, “If you don’t know what to pray, pray the Lord’s Prayer.” I know God just wants to hear from me and by focusing a little portion of my day by adding in an extra prayer I know that it will help me to keep my eyes set on Him.
You may think that this prayer is only for a church service or to be said in a large group of people, but Jesus gave us these words to help us grow closer to God. I say this prayer every week in Chapel with a group of kids ages 2 – 5 years old. Not too long ago, I asked if everyone was ready to pray and gave the cue to put their hands together, but before I could get started, a 2-year-old boy belted out, “Our Fodder who art in heaven,” and was stopped only by giggles all around. It was the sincerest start to a prayer I’d ever heard. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long your prayer is, God wants to hear from us! I pray this Lenten Season, we can all grow closer to God, our Fodder.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever. – Amen.
Taylor Easttom, Downtown Campus Director of Children’s Ministries
