More Than Words
- May 29
- 5 min read
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9–13
Certain Scriptures stay with us for a lifetime.
Matthew 6:9–13 was one of the very first Scripture passages I was taught as a child. I memorized it early, and throughout every season of my life, it has remained close to my heart.
If my grandmother were still here on earth, I believe she would be proud to see that I still hold tightly to the Word of God she instilled in me all those years ago. What she planted in my heart as a child became an anchor throughout my life. The Scriptures she taught me have continued to strengthen, guide, and carry me through every season.
As a child, I repeated the words because I was taught to. But as I grew older, I began to understand the depth and power behind what Jesus was teaching.
This was never meant to be empty repetition.
Jesus was teaching His disciples how to approach the Father.
Through the years, through joy, uncertainty, ministry, trials, and even physical battles, this passage has continually brought me back to a place of peace, surrender, and dependence on God.
There is something powerful about returning to the simplicity of prayer.
Sometimes we think prayer has to sound impressive or polished. But Jesus showed us that prayer is about relationship.
He began with these words:
“Our Father…”
What a beautiful reminder.
We are not praying to a distant God. We are praying to a loving Father.
A Father who sees, who knows, who cares and who listens.
Even now, I’m reminded how essential prayer truly is. Not as a religious routine, but as daily communion with God through the Holy Spirit.
There have been moments in life where I did not have the strength, the answers, or even the right words to pray. Yet somehow, returning to the presence of God changed everything.
Prayer has a way of realigning our hearts.
When Jesus said:
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done…”
He was teaching us surrender.
In a world that constantly tells us to build our own kingdom, protect our own agenda, and pursue our own desires, Jesus reminds us to seek the will of the Father above all else. That is not always easy.
Sometimes God’s will stretches us. Sometimes it requires trust, and there are times we are called into uncomfortable places of faith. But there is peace in surrendering to God.
Jesus also taught us to pray:
“Give us today our daily bread.”
He said daily bread.
God wants us to depend on Him daily.
Not just occasionally or during a crisis. But every single day.
Daily, we need God's wisdom, strength, grace, and peace.
The beautiful thing is, God is faithful to provide what we need for the season we are in.
This passage also reminds us of the importance of forgiveness.
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Forgiveness is not always easy, especially when pain runs deep. But unforgiveness quietly hardens the heart and hinders spiritual growth.
The Holy Spirit continually works within us, softening us, healing us, and teaching us how to walk in grace.
Then Jesus ends with this powerful reminder:
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
We are in a spiritual battle, and we cannot fight spiritual battles in our own strength. We need the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is not weakness at all. It is dependence on God.
The older I get, the more I realize how much I truly need Him.
Especially during difficult seasons. Prayer is not simply something we do before meals, before church, or during emergencies. Prayer is where we find strength. It is where we pour out our hearts honestly before God. It is where peace replaces fear and where the Holy Spirit refreshes weary souls.
There were seasons in my life where I could not rely on my own strength. Seasons where, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, I needed God in a deeper way than ever before. And through it all, His presence remained faithful.
The Lord’s Prayer reminds me that God is not only holy and powerful, but He is also personal.
He is close to the brokenhearted.
He hears the cries of His people.
He walks with us through every valley.
And He continues to sustain us day by day.
I am thankful that what began as a memorized childhood Scripture became a lifeline throughout my life.
Even today, these words still ground me. They remind me that God is near.
And they are a constant reminder that through the Holy Spirit, we are never alone.
Maybe today you feel weary, and life feels heavy.
Maybe you are searching for peace, direction, or strength.
Can I encourage you today?
Go back to prayer.
Go back to the Father. Go back to His presence.
I encourage you to slow down long enough to hear His voice again. Sit in His presence again. Open His Word. Let the Holy Spirit minister to your heart again.
Because prayer is more than words.
It is where we encounter God.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of prayer. Thank You that we can come boldly before You as Your children. Teach us to seek Your will above our own and to depend on You daily. Strengthen us through the Holy Spirit and draw us closer to Your heart. Help us walk in forgiveness, trust, and surrender. Thank You for being faithful through every season of life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
If you are reading this and you do not know Jesus, or you feel far from Him, this is your moment. Jesus taught that to enter the Kingdom of God, we must be born again, made new through faith in Him. If you are unsure what that means or have never made that decision, I encourage you to connect with a mature believer who can walk with you into this life-changing step, into baptism, and into new life in Jesus Christ.
Get planted. Find a Bible-teaching, Holy Spirit-filled church family that will pray for you, love you, disciple you, and walk alongside you. Pursue Jesus with your whole heart and watch Him transform your life.
Pastor Satise Roddy, M.Th., Th.D. (Hon.)
Come Expecting … Leave Transformed
Satise Roddy Ministries