Daily Devotion

“It is he [the Holy Spirit] alone who enables them to subordinate all their desires unto God's glory. Without his especial aid and assistance we should aim at self only and ultimately in all we do. Our own profit, ease, satisfaction, mercies, peace, and deliverance, would be the end whereunto we should direct all our supplications; whereby they would be all vitiated and become abominable. … He keeps them unto this also, that the issue of their supplications may be the improvement of holiness in them, and thereby their conformity unto God, with their nearer access unto him.”

John Owen · A Discourse of the Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer (1682), ch. V (Works, ed. Goold, vol. 4)

Scripture

Matthew 6:9-11 “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.’”

Reflection

Often we pray so that God will act as we wish, but true prayer brings our hearts into line with God's heart. When we study the Lord's Prayer carefully, we find that Jesus teaches us to be concerned first with God's glory, God's kingdom and God's will. When our hearts are aligned with God's heart, our prayers are full of power.