Give us in the Lord’s Prayer
This command or request by Jesus of the Father presumes that the Father had all power according to eternal laws to give him anything he asked of Him, even power to resurrect himself. Concerning this omnipotent power to give, the apostle Paul says:
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”[i]
Jesus tells us in modern times through His prophet:
“I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself—Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world,”[ii]
Alma the prophet says of this power:
“my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.”[iii]
We often think because God does not answer our earnest prayers right away, that either He does not exist, that He doesn’t care about our small desire, or that He doesn’t have power to do what we ask.
When aged Sarah was told she would have a child at age 90, she laughed. Then God through the 3 angels asked Abraham:
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?”[iv]
Just looking at a small list of the things God has already done for us, given us or promised us makes us humble before His mighty power.
- He created this earth and worlds without number.
- He gave His Only Begotten Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
- He gave His Son the power over even death to resurrect himself and all of us.
- He promises us and gives us the Holy Ghost.
- He promises and delivers us from death, sin, weaknesses, illness, disability, slavery, homelessness, emotional entrapment, addiction, war, suffering, and gives us joy in adversity.
- He promises us answers to our prayers
- He promises peace in a self-destructing, fallen world.
Just looking at the past century or so and the millions of prayers offered during World War I, World War II, the Irish civil war, the Vietnam war, we see God answering impossible prayers. Peace broke out, the wars ended that seemed endless, enemies became friends, and nations began helping each other. These blessings are no accident of nature or work of men, but the work of the mighty God of Israel who has all power to accomplish all His works and answer the lowly prayers of man.
Mahatma Ghandi, a poor monk, fasted and prayed, and peace broke out between Muslims and Hindus, the mighty British gave up their most cherished colony without a single shot being fired. Such is the power of prayer to a God who listens and has all power to answer our humble righteous prayers.
When the Savior prays to the Father and pleads, “Give us”, he is including all of us as his equals before God. He is humbling himself to our level as Paul said:
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”[v]
The whole of humanity represented by “us” is seeking blessings from God at this time of pandemic and natural disasters on a global scale. Certainly, as in times past, God will hear us, hear our prayers individually and collectively and bring about miraculous blessings, the most desired of all will be the return of the King, His Only Begotten Son.
[i] Ephesians 3:20-21
[ii] D&C 19:1-3
[iii] Alma 26:35
[iv] Genesis 18:14
[v] Phillipians 2:5-11