10 June 2022

A 10-day plan for praying the Lord's Prayer

Major Pauline Milner

A photo of a Bible open at Matthew 6:9-13

Over the next ten days, pause each day to focus on a phrase from the Lord's Prayer.

Key texts

The opening verses of Luke 11 record that after Jesus had been praying, one of his disciples asked him: ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’

It’s worth noting that the disciples had been with Jesus at this time for around two years. They had front row seats when he taught and preached. They witnessed his miracles. Yet, interestingly, in so far as Scripture tells us, they didn’t ask him ‘Lord, teach us to preach,’ or ‘Lord, show us how to minister,’ or ‘Lord, show us how to do mission.’ They asked: ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’

Jesus responded with what we commonly call ‘The Lord’s Prayer’, though it might be better called the ‘Disciples Prayer’ since it serves as a model or template for us still today.

Matthew 6:9 – Jesus said: 'Pray like this:...'

Matthew 6:9-13, as presented in The Passion Translation:

Our Beloved Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms, may the glory of your name be the centre on which our lives turn.

Manifest your Kingdom realm and cause your every purpose to be fulfilled on Earth, just as it is in Heaven.

We acknowledge you as provider of all we need each day.

Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.

Rescue us every time we face tribulation and set us free from evil.

For you are the King who rules with power and glory forever.

Amen

Matthew 6:9 – God's Paternity: 'Our Father...'

When we come to God in prayer, Jesus shows us we can speak to him intimately as his children (John 1:12) and he our Father.

Living and loving God, today we pause to marvel at your love and compassion in giving us Jesus, that we may call you - who are Almighty, Sovereign, Creator of all things and King of Glory - ‘Abba Father’.

Help us to grasp this amazing blessing and to live confidently as your beloved children.

Amen

Matthew 6:9: 'Hallowed be your name'

When we pray ‘Hallowed be your name’, we are declaring that our God is holy, consecrated, sacred and to be revered.

Here, Jesus teaches us to pray that God may be God to us. It is also a missional prayer; the essence of all evangelism is people everywhere allowing God to be God in their lives.

Heavenly Father, we revere and honour your holy name.

Be God in every aspect of our lives and reveal yourself more and more to us as we pray.

Today I pray for … (name those you are praying for). Please break in and be God in their lives.

Amen

Matthew 6:10 – God's programme and purpose

When we pray, ‘your Kingdom come, your will be done,’ we look toward that time when the kingdom of this world will become the Kingdom of our God.

Father, we pray for our world and for an end to all that frustrates the fulfilment of your purpose.

We think of those in countries racked by conflict, famine, disease and poverty; of those who face repression and discrimination and persecution.

Help us to usher in your Kingdom now, as we commit to build a more just and loving world.

Amen

Matthew 6:11 – God's provision: 'Give us today...'

When Jesus included the words ‘give us this day our daily bread’, he showed us that God is as concerned with our physical wellbeing as he is with our spiritual wellbeing.

Take a moment to thank God for his provision in your life and ask him for the things you need today.

Father, we thank you as you have given us far in excess of our daily meal and what we simply need to live.

Help us to be thankful and generous in sharing with others all that you have given to us.

Amen

Matthew 6:12: 'Forgive us our sins'

Ponder 1 John 1:9 and make your own confession.

Father, time and again we experience failure in our lives, in our choices, in our attitudes, and in our relationships.

We thank you for being so ready to forgive us whenever we turn to you and honestly acknowledge our sinfulness.

We thank you that no matter who we are or what we have done or failed to do, in you we can know the joy of forgiveness and beginning again.

Amen

Matthew 6:12: '…as we also forgive...'

Read the sober warning given in Matthew 6:15.

Gracious Father, help us to be people who forgive those who hurt or wrong us quickly and completely, without harbouring grudges or bitterness.

In so doing, may we know your peace and seek to live in peace with others, demonstrating the reality of the grace and love of Jesus in all that we say and do.

Amen

Matthew 6:13 – God's protection: 'Lead us not into temptation'

Jesus reminds us that we are in a spiritual battle between good and evil; there is no neutral ground.

Here, we acknowledge that alone we are no match for such powers, but we can rely fully on God to protect us.

Father, we thank you for your word that tells us Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are.

Thank you that you do not leave us without guidance to resist and overcome the temptations that come upon us.

Strengthen our faith and deepen our understanding and application of your word in our lives.

Amen

Matthew 6:13: 'And deliver us from evil'

To pray this prayer is to recognise our own weakness and the danger of sin, but at the same time declaring we have a God who can save us.

Father, thank you for revealing that the evil one is powerful and active in this world, and he is opposed to your good creation and perfect will.

Thank you that the victory of Jesus on the cross is not just more powerful, it is all powerful!

Today we pray for the world, we bind every force of evil and call for the light and goodness of Jesus to shine into the darkest places.

Amen

‘Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever'

Read 1 Chronicles 29:11.

The Lord’s Prayer, as we commonly recite it, concludes with a trumpet blast of praise. These words do not appear in the prayer as Jesus taught it, though such doxologies appear in other biblical texts.

Lord Jesus, thank you that real power and glory is found in obedience, forgiveness, humility, grace, justice and love.

In praying these words today, we declare and pledge our allegiance to the Kingdom of God and dedicate our lives to making it a reality here on earth.

Amen

This material was originally published in Prayer Matters, the territorial prayer diary for the United Kingdom and Ireland territory, for 10-19 June 2022.