My Lord's Prayer

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13, NKJV)

This semester I have had a deep desire to learn more about prayer. A few days ago the Lord directed me to Matthew 6 where Christ gives us an example of a prayer we are to model after popularly known as the Lord’s Prayer. I decided to break the prayer down and write my own thoughts on it.

“Our Father in Heaven,” The prayer is personally addressed to God who sits above us on His heavenly throne. When I pray, I am to address my heavenly Father by name and with respect.

“Hallowed be your name.” Again, the Lord’s name is to be honored, revered.

“Your kingdom come.” May God’s kingdom come into the hearts and lives of the unbelieving and reignite fires in the souls of His distracted children.

“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” God’s perfect plan for my life, the lives of my friends, the lives of all humanity, and the course of all nations will come to fruition.

“Give us this day our daily bread.” May the Lord give me exactly what I need for today. Not more. Not less.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” May the Lord forgive me for my wrongdoings, but only as long as I forgive others.

“And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.” May the Lord keep me steadfast and strong to resist the darts Satan fires at my shield.

“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” My Father owns the world; He controls it, and my single purpose in life is to bring Him glory through it!

I would challenge you to pray through the Lord’s prayer in your own words. It provides us with a beautiful outline on how to communicate with “Our Father in Heaven. . . .”