The Lord instructed us on how we are to pray to God the Father. The Lord’s prayer is not a prayer we are to repeat word for word when we go before God in prayer. In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus provided an outline to us as a means to remind us what we are to include when communicating with our Father in Heaven! Here is a break down of those inclusions…
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name: we are to address God in an honorable, respectful, and loving way when we pray to Him. We are to always give reverence to His name!
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven: we are to always pray for the Lord’s will to be manifested in the natural- for Him to set into action in our lives what He has already worked out in the spirit. God’s will is to give us HOPE and a FUTURE… pray for His Plan to be revealed and that you may find your Purpose in Him!
Give us this day our daily bread: we are to ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK… meaning that if we have a need, we are to seek His guidance and pray for His blessings. We are to keep a watchful eye for the opportunities that He presents to us and KNOCK (take advantage of His mercy and seize those opportunities). “Give us this day our daily bread” simply is a placeholder for us to ask for the Lord’s provision in our lives; for Him to provide daily for unmet needs!
And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us: we are to admit that we have sinned, and confess those sins before him; furthermore, we are to ask for His forgiveness and humble ourselves by submitting to His command to forgive others when they trespass against us, or do wrong by us. We must deal with others the way God deals with us: in love, compassion, and above all – willingness (and DESIRE) to forgive.
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil: we are to ask for God’s leadership in our lives, and plead for deliverance of the spirits that bind us. Pray for God’s strength in your life so that you may resist temptation, fight against evil desires, and have wisdom to recognize Satan’s devices for what they are.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever: we are always to express our love for God and our thankfulness that His glory and mercy abound! We are to stay in acknowledgment of His infinite might and power, which is eternal!
Amen: Literally means, “Let it be so…” This is an expression of faith which says to God, “These things which I have prayed are now in your hands and I trust You with them!”
*Jesus declared, ” … I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.” (John 14:6) Jesus went directly to God in prayer. We, however, are to pray to God in Jesus’ name thereby, acknowledging that it is only by the blood of Jesus that we are reconciled to God!