Praying the Lord's Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer (also known as the Model Prayer or Disciples’ Prayer) is the prayer Jesus used to teach his disciples to pray, found in Matthew 6:7-13 and Luke 11:1-4. The following is a brief study from Matthew's telling of the Lord's Prayer (cited from the ESV).

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

Notice that Jesus never said the words of the prayer itself is what we should pray. Rather, he says we should pray like the prayer he gives. Jesus also said we should not repeat words or be long-winded to sound more spiritual. Our prayers should be honest, worshipful conversation directed to God.

Our Father in heaven

We start in prayer by addressing the One we are praying to. He is “Our Father” – the Father of all those who know Jesus. He is “in heaven” – he is greater and more majestic than us – and yet, we have the privilege of calling him “Our Father.”

hallowed [or honored] be your name.

We worship God and express our desire for his name (all he is) to be honored in our lives and throughout the world.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

We submit to God’s rule and will and ask that he would work in us and in the world.

Give us this day our daily bread,

We ask for God to provide our necessities.

and forgive us our debts,

Confession of sin (Luke’s parallel is to ‘debts’ is ‘sins’)

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Relational needs and our need for holiness.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Spiritual needs. This means don’t let us give into temptation, God does allow us to be tempted (1 Cor 10:13) we are tempted by our own sinful hearts, not God (James 1:13), but we ask for his guidance and strength to stay firm in our faith and resist sin.

Here is an example of how to use the Lord’s Prayer as a model for your own prayers:

Our Father in heaven

Address: Address God with respect, love, and worship

Hallowed be your name

Worship: Worship God and express your desire him to be honored in your life and throughout the world

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Submit: Humbly submit yourself to God’s rule and will

Give us this day our daily bread,

Needs: Ask God to provide your necessities and take care of you

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Sins: Confess any sin in your life

Holiness: Ask God to help you live a godly life

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Temptation: Ask God for the strength to resist temptation