As the new year begins, I’m reminded of a prayer Jewish people use during Rosh Hashanah, their traditional new year. It calls people to return to God and is translated “Our Father, Our King.”
As Christians, we use the phrase, “My Lord and Savior.” Often, we focus more on our Savior who is merciful, forgiving, and loving—rather than on Him as our Lord, who died to take the punishment for our sins and deserves our heartfelt obedience. When we truly make Him our Lord and Savior, we do both, and we echo this prayer. If He is your King, you wouldn’t think of disobeying Him.
“If you love me, obey my commandments.” –John 14:15
Jesus tells His followers in John 14:15, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” That’s key for us as Christians. It is our loving service to Him to be obedient children of the Most High God. So during the coming year, let us strive to be obedient out of love and gratitude to Him. And when we miss the mark, we can pray, “Father, forgive us. We did not obey you as our King.”
If He is your King, you wouldn’t think of disobeying Him.
Here is a version of “Our Father, Our King” that I’ve adapted and translated:
Our Father, our King, we have sinned before You.
Our Father, our King, we have no King but You.
Our Father, our King, be kind to us for the sake of Your Name.
Our Father, our King, bless us with a good year.
Our Father, our King, stop the plague from reaching us.
Our Father, our King, pardon and forgive all our iniquities.
Our Father, our King, blot out and remove our transgressions from before Your eyes.
Our Father, our King, erase all record of our sins.
Our Father, our King, bring us back to You in wholehearted repentance.
Our Father, our King, send complete healing to the sick of Your people. Our Father, our King, remember us with favor before You.
Our Father, bless us so that we rise from being servants,
and become Your children again.
May we be written in Your Book of Life. Amen.
Scripture is quoted from the NLT. Adapted from a teaching on The 700 Club.
Image by pressfoto on Freepik
