Prayer Life – The Lord’s Prayer

The beginning of the prayer, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, is calling on and greeting God as you begin to speak to Him. It is like calling out to a friend with whom you want to speak. You also acknowledge that you know God as God. You worship Him by acknowledging His holiness. The second phrase, Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, speaks to your relationship with the Lord. In this, the second petition of the Lord’s prayer, you are asking for a speedy return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; however, God’s will, not your will, should be done in this regard. You are also asking for your life to reflect heaven on this earth. You are acknowledging a desire to enter into an intimate relationship with God. The third petition of the prayer, Give us this day our daily bread, is acknowledging that God provides for all our needs and reveals His expectation that we present our needs to Him. The second part of this petition, and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors, you are directed to seek forgiveness of sin from God, asking Him to forgive you to the extent that you forgive others. Jesus Christ is all about forgiveness. God knows the damage a broken relationship can cause and wants us to seek to extend forgiveness, as perfect a forgiveness as is possible in a sin filled world, because this demonstrates the depth of our love for His Son, Jesus Christ. The final phrase, also a petition, is seeking the Lord’s help, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. God does not tempt us to sin. This petition seeks God’s protection and deliverance from the sins you will encounter throughout the course of your life.

You can get started by simply reciting the prayer word for word from the Bible; however, I encourage you to use your own words and close your prayers with the phrase “in Jesus’ name,” as directed in John 16:24-28:

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”   (ESV) 

Do not delay, start today!