And it came to pass, that, as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say…” (Luke 11:1-2a).
If private prayer feels uncomfortable to you or if it’s altogether brand new, there’s no better place to start than the model we commonly call “The Lord’s Prayer.” The version many of us have probably memorized or heard recited in services comes from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer’s merging of Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 (as translated by the 1611 King James Version of the Bible), along with the scribal addition tacked on to some later manuscripts of Matthew 6:13 and adapted from 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 (“for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen”). Technically speaking, therefore, we haven’t received a precisely formulaic version that we can describe as the Lord’s Prayer.
Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit has given us a paradigm we can use to rightly prioritize our prayers. No matter when or where you choose to “present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6), the Lord’s Prayer provides us with an inspired outline as we develop the daily practice of communing with the Lord.
Our Father which art in heaven… Begin by acknowledging the privilege (only available to us because of the atoning and reconciling work of Christ) of addressing the Almighty and Sovereign Ruler of the universe as a loving and compassionate Father.
Hallowed be thy name… Reverently admit God’s holiness (i.e. his sacred transcendence), and ask for God’s Name (i.e. his glorious renown) to be magnified both in your life and in the world.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven… These lines express what our world needs more than anything else—heartfelt obedience to the commands God has expressed in his Word. Ask for the Holy Spirit to transform your hopes and your desires so that what you want above all is in total alignment with God’s revealed will.
Give us this day our daily bread… Here you can boldly place before the throne of grace any specific needs or concerns you might have or that your friends or family members might have.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us… Confess your sins—both what you’ve done and what you’ve left undone—before a holy and righteous God. Likewise, ask him to help you forgive those who may have sinned against you.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen. On the other side of saying, “Amen,” it’s not a question of if we’ll face temptations, it’s a question of what temptations we’ll face. Consequently, we desperately need to have Christ Jesus guard our hearts. As the Good Shepherd, he is faithful to watch over his flock. “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).
Your Pastor,
Dane
