The Lord’s Prayer
By Emily Garrett
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 debts as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Happy New Year, from the Formando Vidas staff!
We all had a good time of rest and vacation after the hustle and bustle leading up to Christmas. Several staff members were able to travel to visit family, while others stayed in Bogotá. The weather cleared up, as it always does near the end of December, and we enjoyed a warm, sunny Christmas and New Years’!
The whole Formando Vidas team spent a week together to kick off 2012 and to refocus our hearts, minds, and energies for the work to be done this year. The leadership feels that God is leading us to study the Lord’s Prayer during 2012, so each day during the induction week we studied a section of the prayer, as we also shared info and plans from each of the ministry’s areas, and spent time fellowshipping together.
One afternoon Claudia, a teacher at Light and Life school, gave each team member an egg and told us to take it home with us, take care of it, and bring it back for the next day’s intercession time. Some carefully transported their eggs in the crowded public buses, creating systems of protection so that the fragile shells wouldn’t be broken. Others safeguarded their eggs in the office, where they waited, untouched, until the next day. A few eggs didn’t make it through the night, and their caretakers arrived to the meeting the next day empty-handed.
When the time came, Claudia told us that the eggs were an illustration for prayer and intercession. She had heard some say, “I don’t know how to take care of this egg!” Or, “I live with and take care of children; you can’t expect me to take care of an egg, too!” Oftentimes, this is our stance about intercession as well. We feel too busy to make prayer a priority, or we feel unsure about how to intercede. But, said Claudia, just like some protected their eggs by constructing barriers around them, the Holy Spirit covers us and prays for us when we don’t know how or what to say. Thanks to Claudia and everyone on the team for leading us in great times of prayer, intercession, and Bible study, seeking the Lord together and as individuals, and allowing the Holy Spirit to align our hearts to God’s.
Along with the Lord’s Prayer, we as a team will be focusing on living with fear of the Lord, and improving our relationships with each other this year. Please join us in prayer for these focus areas!
