Growing up, I prayed what many called The Lord’s Prayer week after week. I continue to pray it at different church services now, but not as frequently. I confess I’ve said it without any expectation. I’ve prayed it out of rote and routine, rather than with hope for things to change. 

However, I’ve found myself back in the book of Matthew, specifically looking at chapters 5 through 7, the Sermon on the Mount. As I read the prayer in the  New Living Translation recently, I was struck by Jesus’ instructions and teaching in how to pray.

Jesus says, “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:9-13).

I’ve committed to make this a daily prayer for now. As I pray this each day, sometimes multiple times in the day, I do so with expectancy. I trust His will will be done and I will understand more deeply what Jesus is teaching us in how to pray.

Here are some thoughts so far:

1. “Our Father” – We could just stop there and meditate on what it means that God is our Father. He is the provider of all we need. He is faithful and just. He who started a good work in us will bring it about to completion. We can trust Him. We are created in His image and our life and times are in His hands.
2. “Give us today the food we need,” – Food in the Bible can be the sustenance we need physically for each day, but there is also a spiritual component.  When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, He said that we don’t  “live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”((Matthew 4:4). He will provide us the truths we need for each day as well. In John 4:34, Jesus also says “My nourishment (food in other translations) comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing His work.” He will provide all we need, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, as we follow Him.
3. “and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” – This one gets a little harder because Jesus goes on to say that God forgives us to the same measure we forgive others of our sin. Matthew 18 is a good example of what happens when we don’t extend the same grace and forgiveness to others as He has given us. Father, help me be quick to forgive.
4. “And don’t let us yield to temptation”  – Here the word yield caught my attention. Initially, I thought of it in the context of driving, slowing down or stopping to give way to others.  Yield can also mean to give way to arguments, demands and pressures. This sounds like other verses talking about how the evil one works. I’ve felt as if I’ve allowed myself to be sidetracked by the ways of the evil one. I need His rescue. 

What about you? Have you been praying the Lord’s prayer out of repetition and routine or with hope and expectancy? Do you want to join me in praying this each day? Let’s wait in eager expectation, hope, of what God will do. Our Father …