Your Personal Grow-Pray-Study (GPS) Guide

 The Fourth Petition: Give us this day our daily bread. What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

 The Second Petition: Thy kingdom come. What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

The Third Petition: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. How is God’s will done?

God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.

 The Introduction: Our Father who art in heaven. What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.

The First Petition: Hallowed be Thy name. What does this mean? God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.

How is God’s name kept holy? God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!

 Martin Luther felt there were four parts of prayer in his own personal prayer life.

1. Instruction – What the Lord calls me to do.
2. Thanksgiving – What the Lord has blessed me with and how I respond.
3. Confession – Where I have failed and ask forgiveness.
4. Petition – Where I need God’s provision and guidance.

A bit of a different GPS this week as we use Luther’s explanation of the Lord’s Prayer from the Small Catechism as our guide for prayer each day weaving through these four parts each day – seeking God’s instruction, expressing thanksgiving, honestly confessing and asking God’s provision and guidance.

Read Luke 10:38-42 and Philippians 4:6. Paul advises us to turn our worries/anxieties into prayers.

As you read the verses from Luke, how are you led to pray for:

• Distractions and preparations in your life?
• Areas where you are worried and upset?
• Caring for your soul and the one thing needed?

Read Luke 10:41-42 twice. As you read it the first time, replace Martha’s name with your own.

As you read it the second time, replace Mary’s name with your own. What is causing you to worry and be upset?

What is the one thing needed that Jesus might affirm in your life today?

Put Luke 10:38-42 into you own words, into your own life experience.  

What are Jesus’ “Martha” words to your task-driven tendencies?

What are Jesus’ “Mary” words to affirm your soul care habits?

 Read Luke 10:38-42, does it suggest a:

• Sin to confess?
• Promise to claim?
• Attitude to change?
• Command to obey?
• Example to follow?
• Prayer to pray?
• Error to avoid?
• Truth to believe?
• Something to praise God for?

What do these words mean for your life today?

Read Luke 10:41-42 aloud more than once.

How does putting the emphasis on different words each time you read Jesus’ words give a different appreciation for what He says to Martha, to Mary, and to you?

 Read Luke 10:38-42. The Picture It! Method of Bible Study is a great way to engage this story. Are you more Martha or Mary?

How do you picture Martha responding to Jesus’ words about her? About Mary?

How do you picture Mary responding to Jesus’ words about Martha? About her?

What do you picture the disciples thinking as they listen to this conversation/intervention?