In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus provides us with a template to assist us with our prayer lives. It is neatly summarised in five words:
Praise, Power, Provision, Pardon, Protection.
Part 1 PRAISE HONOURING GOD’S NAME
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
What’s in a name?
For the most part, in our culture, parents choose a name for their child simply because they like it. Previous cultures have been different. For the Hebrews, to give a name to a child was to give him a meaning – a purpose.
So we turn to God. The Bible offers us many names for God. E.g.:
Elohim: the creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1);
El Elyon: the Most High God (Genesis 14:18-19);
Adonai: the Lord;
When Moses enquired of God: ‘what name shall I give you?’, the voice from the burning bush replied “Jehovah”, literally, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14). There is no greater name than that. I Am – a recognition that God just is – all that there is.
That is our starting point for prayer – to honour the mighty God and recognise that everything that has ever existed, and will exist, comes from Him; to recognise God as the source of all being and all life. When we pray “hallowed be your Name”, we are putting our prayers into a context. We submit ourselves to God. God is not to be trifled with.
And yet….
Jesus invites us to call this mighty God, “Father.” This term “Father” or “Abba” is a name often “used by children for their earthly fathers. It denotes warmth and intimacy. In Romans 8:15 Paul tells us that the moment we receive the Spirit we are adopted into God’s family and get to cry out “Abba Father.” Addressing God as “Father” is our way of acknowledging His love for us – His sovereign care.
The amazing fact is that no one in the Old Testament ever dared to address God as Father. He was much too holy – too beyond them for that level of intimacy. But Jesus gives us that permission; he invites us to address God with the same term “Father” that he used in His prayers. What a privilege!
But whilst we get to call God “Father” we must never forget that His name is hallowed. What this means is that God should be treated with the highest honour possible.
After all, God is the one who ‘knit us in our mother’s womb‘, (Psalms 139:13), spoke the words “let there be light” (Genesis 1:3) and marked off the dimensions of the earth separating the land from the sea (Job 38).
God has always existed, and as our Creator, He has every right to ask us not to reduce Him to being just one god amongst many in our lives (Exodus 20:3). We are called to hold Him in the highest honour in our words, thoughts, and deeds, as we submit to His power and authority, over all things, seen and unseen.
He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Like Moses, when we approach God, we are to honour, glorify and exalt Him, by allowing Him to circumcise our hearts with His righteous ways (Deuteronomy 10:16).
As we come to God in prayer, we must recognise him for who He is: bow our knee before him.
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care. (Psalm 95)
Dear Heavenly Father, I desire to learn how to worship You as You deserve.
Help me to grow into the sort of worshipper that You are seeking,
one who worships You in spirit and truth.
I pray that my life may be one that honours You in all I say and all I do, in all the circumstances of life, throughout the day and as I drift into sleep at night.Lord, I pray that I may learn to walk in all of Your ways, to serve with all of my being and to learn to love You as You have loved me. Teach me Lord, how to worship You in the beauty of holiness so that I may be one that bows my heart before You in spirit and truth, to Your honour and glory. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Part 2 POWER
FOCUSING ON GOD’S KINGDOM AND SEEKING GOD’S WILL
Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Having acknowledged the holiness of God, it is logical that we should move on to express our desire to be obedient to him. So easily, we can approach prayer as if we’re telling God what He should be doing – it can seem to be all about us: what we want; what we think God should be doing. But prayer is so much more than that. Prayer is about discerning God’s agenda.
Prayer is about God and seeking His will. We serve an awesome – a powerful God, so we look for the coming of His kingdom. We submit ourselves to Him and pray for His will to be done, knowing that He is a loving God, who wants what’s best for us. God’s Will is always what’s right for us.
But what does it mean to pray, ‘Your kingdom come?’ God’s kingdom, quite simply, is the fact that God reigns. We are praying that God may be in control. We are praying for God to take authority and to govern the world – to govern over our hearts and lives. We are praying for peace, justice, truth, righteousness. We are praying for an end to evil and for all nations to bow down and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).
That will surely be a glorious day! In the meantime, let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
Jesus urges us to focus on the kingdom of God by seeking His will in all things.
Jesus wants us to pray that the earth will experience the just and good rule of God. Like Jesus, we are called to submit ourselves to the will of the Father in everything that we do. And even when we feel as if we are suffering for His name’s sake, and that the problems of life are more than we can bear, we pray to have courage and faith to cry out to God “not my will, but your will be done!” We are not to be passive observers but active participants in doing God’s will.
Of course, we’re sinful human beings; perfect obedience still awaits the King’s arrival, but let’s strive to make sure that all our words, thoughts and deeds reflect the image of God within us. And when we fail as sinners always do, may we, through His grace repent and continue to run the race ever before us!
The Kingdom of God is within you.
Romans 14:11 “For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.'”
God, my desire is to build your kingdom and not my own, but I confess most of the time I live as if that is not true. I spend so much of my day trying to build my kingdom, making myself, instead of you, the centre of this life. Lord, I need your spirit to remind me minute-by-minute that this life is not all about me. It is all about you. Your word says the time is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and your Kingdom will be made complete. In the end, that will be all that matters. Nothing I build for my own glory will be left so I ask you to help me stop spending this life focused on myself. Jesus, I want to see my daily life through the eyes of your kingdom. Help me to seek your kingdom in my heart, mind, and life.
Part 3 PROVISION
ASKING GOD TO PROVIDE FOR OUR PHYSICAL/SPIRITUAL NEEDS
‘Give us this day our daily bread.’
The second half of the Lord’s Prayer focuses upon asking God. Having worshipped God, and prayed that we may submit ourselves to His will, now we are in the right frame of mind to bring our requests to Him.
Give us today our daily bread” is not about commanding God – we’re not in the business of telling God what to do – that would be presumption on our part, but we are told to bring our requests to God so that He will provide for our present day’s physical and spiritual needs. And He knows what we need.
So as we pray for our daily bread, we remember our total dependence upon God. He is the giver of all that we need. Whilst we are called to be responsible and sensible stewards, providing for ourselves, we are not to be anxious about what we shall eat or wear (Matthew 6:34), for God promises to provide these things to those who seek first His kingdom.
So, we ask for daily bread – not daily donuts or rich chocolate cake. God is not a dispensing machine. He’s a God who knows what we need.
This “daily food” is a reference to Israel’s reliance on God for manna in the desert (back in the days of the wilderness wanderings), when God did supply their daily needs, but it can also be a reference to our spiritual sustenance. The Holy Spirit knows our spiritual needs, and Paul reminds us that the Spirit intercedes for us with wordless groans (Romans 8:26).
So let’s approach God with thankfulness. He knows our needs, and in His love for us, He wants to give us all that we need in order to live our human lives: not just our physical needs, but our spiritual needs also, and perhaps most important of all, those qualities that enable us to grow in Christ likeness.
So along with daily bread, pray for spiritual fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control.
We have listened to God’s Word.
Now let us come to God full of hope for all our needs:
For a real sense of excited anticipation as we offer ourselves to Jesus
Lord hear our prayer
For peace in our homes, our schools and our communities
Lord hear our prayer
For peace and harmony in countries torn apart by war around the world,
that weapons be remade into garden tools
Lord hear our prayer
That we always learn to be alert and aware of God’s presence in our daily lives
Lord hear our prayer
We pray, O Lord for those amongst us and those around the world whom we name in our hearts before you; we especially ask for those who are poor this day
- for those who are poor in the basic needs of daily living
- for those who are poor in love;
hear too the prayers we ask for those who need healing or hope in their lives, those who need justice, and those who require mercy.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer
Part 4 PARDON ASKING GOD FOR FORGIVENESS
‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.’
Forgiveness: the word “debt” in Greek means the same as “sin”. “Sin creates an obligation or “debt” to God that we cannot possibly repay.” The wages of sin, in other words, death, can only be cancelled or pardoned based on the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. Those who have received forgiveness of sins are to be so filled with gratitude that they will eagerly forgive others.
Well, that’s the theory. We all know that when it comes to forgiving others, it isn’t always that easy.
But Jesus warns us that if we do not forgive and cancel the debts of others when they repent then God will not forgive and cancel our debts when we repent. It’s not so much that forgiving others is a condition of being forgiven, but that forgiveness is not to be a one-way process. Since we, and others, sin daily, Jesus is telling us to forgive and ask for forgiveness each day so that nothing will hinder our fellowship with a holy God!
This is undoubtedly the most difficult of the petitions in the Lord’s Prayer to pray with integrity, because it is often nearly impossible for our minds to cancel the debts of those who have offended us. We know the theory, but don’t we just enjoy hanging on to a grudge? In our minds, those who have been bent on harming us and destroying our reputations have much to pay for! It is so much easier to avoid the person and gossip about them than it is to face them and work things out, as Jesus teaches us in Matthew 18:15-20. Even though Jesus commands us to love our enemies, our love tends to be withheld from those who we perceive as intentionally harming us. And even when the “perpetrator” comes back and asks to be forgiven we tend to withhold our love until they “pay the price” for having sinned against us. We simply demand our pound of flesh.
Jesus teaches that our love for those created in His image must be unconditional and we are to forgive them when they repent or God will not forgive us when we repent, nor will He cancel our debts. Those who have been forgiven much are asked to forgive much as well.
How we need to pray this prayer! I can only forgive others with the power of the Holy Spirit at work within me.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,
forgive us the many times we have judged others without knowing or loving them.
Give us an awareness of our sins and shortcomings
and make us see ourselves as you know us.
Guide us in all our contacts with those around us and fill us with mercy and love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (The Church Army)
We ask God for His forgiveness for our wrongdoings.
Father God, you know how much we need your mercy and continuing forgiveness. When we are caught up with distractions and trivialities which blind us to eternal issues:
Forgive us and help us.
When we concentrate upon building treasure on earth and become mindless of your kingdom:
Forgive us and help us.
When we lose vision of Christ, and fail to strive after the abundant life which you offer:
Forgive us and help us.
O Lord, we need you. Our hearts are wounded, our days fade like evening shadows, we are weak and despise ourselves, for we have sinned against you. Forgive us, O Lord, and in your constant love, save and help us, through Jesus our Redeemer. Amen.
Part 5 PROTECTION
ASKING GOD FOR AID IN SPIRITUAL BATTLES
‘Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.’
The final petition of the Lord’s Prayer raises the stakes. It reminds us that as we pray, we are engaging in spiritual warfare. We are enlisting as soldiers of Christ, to do battle against the enemy – against Satan.
Peter reminds us, ‘be sober, be vigilant, your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion. Resist him, firm in your faith,’ (1 Peter 5:8-9)
We pray for God to help us to resist temptation and to be delivered from evil.
Temptation is common to all of us. It’s not wrong to be tempted – we can’t avoid it. But it’s when we give in to temptation that we begin to sin. So we pray all the more, ‘Lord, help me to resist temptation.’
If we can resist temptation, then we’re halfway there in the battle with evil. We are only too well aware that evil exists, with catastrophic consequences.
But we don’t need to be afraid – we have all the spiritual protection that we need. That’s why Ephesians 6 is such an important passage.
Lord God, I pray for Your protection in my life. You are my hiding place, and under Your wings I can always find refuge. Protect me from trouble wherever I go and keep evil far from me. No matter where I am, I will look to You as my Protector, my shield, my hiding place, the One Who fights for me every day. Your love and faithfulness, along with Your goodness and mercy, surround me daily, so I will not fear whatever might come against me. My trust is in You, God, and I give thanks to You for Your love and protection. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Put on the armour of Christ….
Prayerfully read Ephesians 6:10-18.
PART 6 CONCLUSION
The doxology:
The kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
This last section of the Lord’s Prayer is not in the bible – it is a later addition – probably added to give the prayer a neat ending.
It is a very early addition – probably going back as far as the 1st century.
It is fitting that this prayer that started out glorifying God the Father, His kingdom, and His will, concludes by giving God all the honour and glory. This prayer is an example of how we as Christians can boldly but humbly approach a holy God and ask Him to provide for daily needs: physical and spiritual bread, forgiveness of sins and divine deliverance from the evil one.
Praise be to God that He loves us unconditionally and has provided us with the means to have a healthy relationship with Him!
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you most humble and hearty thanks
for all your goodness and loving kindness.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ,
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And give us, we pray, such a sense of all your mercies
that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful,
and that we show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up ourselves to your service,
and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer)
I am no longer my own but yours,
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,
exalted for you, or brought low for you;
let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.'
(John Wesley)
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