I was at a bible study recently and a friend of mine, at the end of the study starts to pray, and he started out by saying:
“Let’s pray how Jesus instructed us on how to pray with the Lord’s prayer.” I quickly asked, what do you mean? I thought we should pray from the heart?
In my personal opinion, The Lord’s Prayer has always been a repetitive prayer. As a child I would fall asleep praying that prayer. My friend then went on to say that in the book of Matthew it instructs us that “This, then, is how you should pray”. I quickly turned to Matthew 6:9-13, and to my surprise, my King and Savior is indeed saying: “This, then, is how you should pray”.
That night I studied that
1. Our Father
Although each and every human on this earth has a biological father somewhere, the Biblical reference to our father holds the meaning of being the creator of not only our carnal bodies, but also the creator of the earth and the Heavens as is referenced in Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth.” God the Father is referenced throughout the Bible, and He is also identified as the Father of his human son, Jesus Christ, who was sent to earth to die for our sins.
2. Who art in Heaven
This line defines not only the geographical location of God, our Creator, but it also references his divinity as being alive and vigilant over us as we live on earth.
3. Hallowed be thy name
This third line of the Lord’s prayer continues to clarify and lift up our God onto the pedestal which is His and His alone. His name is to be honored and even idolized as the one and only true God. The word hallowed means sacred and to be revered. One of the Ten Commandments mandates that we not take the Lord thy God’s name in vain. This means do not callously and irreverently use the Lord God’s name.
4. Thy kingdom come
The book of Revelations describes in specific detail what we are to expect when Jesus Christ once again returns to earth to gather his children (those who are true followers of Christ) and to take all those followers to what is described in the Bible by Jesus when he states that “my Father has many mansions.”
5. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven
One of the most distinctive words in this phrase is the word “will.” Although in most cases, the word “will” is used as a verb, herein it is used as a noun. This four letter word carries much of the mission of the Bible itself because it is God’s will that we become followers of Jesus Christ. Ironically, man was created to have his one “will,” which is at the root of much of our demise and destruction. For example, God does not stop us from drinking and driving, which can result in the untimely death of self or an innocent person or making any other poor choice.
6. Give us this day our daily bread
This is an earnest portion of the Lord’s prayer wherein we are requesting the basic earthly sustenance that our bodies require to live on earth. Hence, we are asking God to provide not only food to keep us healthy but also shelter from the elements and other basic carnal needs.
7. …and forgive us our trespasses
The Bible commands us to forgive others, as we are very imperfect creatures who commit “trespasses” daily against others. In other words, we commit minor and major ill will against our fellow man every day. Some trespasses are intentional, but others may be pure acts of negligence.
8. As we forgive others who trespass against us
This is tied in very closely with #7, above. We ask to be forgiven and we are Biblically commanded to forgive others if we expect to be forgiven ourselves for our ill will against others. Jesus lived a life on earth that is a testament of tolerance and forgiveness of others’ transgressions.
9. …and lead us not into temptation
This portion of the Lord’s prayer can be explained by using the analogy of the common riding horse. Horses know only fight or flight when they are confronted with fear. However, the horse that has been well trained for riding or pulling a cart/wagon will inherently trust its rider to not lead it into any territory that is dangerous. A horse will infinitely trust the human on its back to not lead it astray. In this portion, we as humans are asking God to help keep our weak carnal minds and bodies from the temptations of those things that might be our downfall.
10. But deliver us from evil
Just as an earthly father (or mother) would do everything they could to protect their offspring from the jaws of anything life-threatening or treacherous, the prayer is asking that God help us climb out of those valleys that we all experience. It is this portion in which faith is likely the most critical element. Not only must we ask for deliverance, but we must also trust and expect that God will deliver us from evil, even if that deliverance results in us losing our earthly bodies.
Wilson Alvarez, a lover of Jesus Christ had an early experience where he had a vision of the Risen Lord & instantaneously became a believer at the prime age of 3. Throughout his young life, he always felt protection and blessings and even though was not walking with the Lord, always acknowledged his blessings. It was when he turned 30, that he became a follower and prayed based on John 3:3 – “In order to enter the Kingdom of God, you must be born again.” Mr. Alvarez enjoys Men’s ministries and is active in the prison ministry movement where he gives weekly leadership and Christian talks. For ministry opportunities, please reach him at info@godsfishermen.org