Pray from the Outside In

Last week, when we looked at the Lord’s Prayer, we noticed a particular pattern to the prayer Christ asked us to pray. We pray from the outside in.  We do not start by praying for ourselves, but we begin with prayer for the coming of the Kingdom, and for the will of God to be done on earth.  Only after we have asked for others, do we ask for ourselves.

This is not because others are more important than we are.  On the contrary, the Believer who does not receive from God will not be much inclined to ask for others. But the pattern is there because our human, sinful nature is to put ourselves first. In our anxiety and greed, we think too much about our own shortage, and focus on that.  Either we think our sins need the most forgiveness, or that our needs require immediate attention.

Not so.  The believer is always in the hands of God. We do not have to worry about receiving from God—in fact, we have already received more than we can imagine.  It is the adequacy of God’s gifts to us that makes it possible to put others first.

Before you ask a single thing for yourselve,s take a moment and thank God for what you have already received.  Ask the same blessing and bounty for others. Put Kingdom first.

Jesus said  “Seek first, the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

God, teach me to pray for others before myself.  Let me appreciate the gifts I have already received, and turn my thoughts outward to care for the whole world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.