"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" says the Psalmist. May we let the light of the Lord's Prayer shine into our hearts today that we may learn to truly pray.
"Our Father"-The very first word tells us this is a universal prayer. God is not the Father of any one race or nation, but of all races and every nation; not "My Father" but "Our Father". This central candle is the tallest of all. God is light. He is the light of the world and of the ages. How dark this world would be if this light should grow dim or go out. But God is the Eternal God, and Our Father, and like little children we can go to Him with our every need.
"Who Art In Heaven"- The blue candle reminds us of the blue heavens above . God is beyond the blue, but his light, His love, His spirit surrounds us everywhere. So is He ever protecting, guarding, keeping watch over His own.
"Hallowed Be Thy Name"- Green is the most enduring of colours. The cedars and pines are green throughout the year. Green is the "everlasting colour". The name of God is everlasting.
"Thy Kingdom Come"- Purple is the royal colour. The robes of a king are purple . May God hasten the Royal Purple Day- the day when Jesus Christ, His Son shall reign as King.
"Thy Will Be Done On Earth"- Brown represents the colour of the earth, the brown ground of the earth in winter. As in summertime , through His will, it blossoms forth in beauty and so should His love and goodwill among men and women .
"Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"- Gold stands for the golden grain from which our daily bread is made. This is a prayer for physical needs to sustain this body, which is the present home of the soul. God wants to feed the world. He loves His children and doesn't want even one to go hungry.
"Forgive Us Our Debts As We Forgive Our Debtors"- Silver is the colour of the coin with which we pay our debts. This is one of the hardest parts of this prayer. To forgive is hard when someone has hurt us or been unkind. We should look into our relationship with God. How often we need to say "Forgive me. Lord". Hurt feelings have no place in the Christian life.
"Save Us From The Time Of Trial"- Red stands for sin, the results of temptation to which we have yielded. Even Jesus had temptation yet was without sin. James wrote "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life that the Lord hath promised to them that love Him"
"But Deliver Us From Evil"- The black candle represents the dark and evil deeds from which we pray to be delivered. Wrong thoughts are seeds from which evil grows; therefore "whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8
"For The Kingdom The Power"- The white candle represents the great throne, the seat of God's power. When all other powers and kingdoms have failed, God's power will still remain and His power will still rule the world.
"And The Glory Are Yours, Now And Forever"- Orange is the dominant colour of a beautiful sunset and the most glorious of all sunsets is but a faint reflection of the glory of God. No prayer is so full of divine radiance as the Lord's Prayer. It calls the world to prayer.