What is the meaning of the Lord’s prayer? The Lord’s Prayer is, in all likelihood, the most well-known and repeated prayer among Christians.
It is found in two of the gospels, specifically Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. There we can see that Jesus used that prayer as an example to teach his disciples how to pray.
As we look at this model of prayer we see that prayer that pleases God is one that is simple and sincere.
It must come out of the depths of the heart and express what disturbs our being.
As we pray we must recognize the power, the greatness of God, and also the need we have for him and for him to intervene in our lives.
The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9-13
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us our daily bread today.
Forgive us our debts,
just as we have forgiven our debtors.
And do not let us fall into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one,
for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
V…9 (Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be thy name)
The Lord’s Prayer begins by acknowledging that we speak with God, our Father. We are part of your big family! As we are his children, we can talk directly to him without the need for intermediaries.
Our beloved Father listens to us and we can approach Him with confidence at any time (Hebrews 4:16).
Even so, our attitude to him should be humble and one of praise, recognizing his greatness and his holiness. There is no one like our God! He is holy, holy, holy (Isaiah 6:3).
Filled with that conviction, we express the longing that all mankind will recognize the sanctity of his name and that it will experience the desire to exalt and glorify him.
V…10 (Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven)
Then, we recognize God as our King. Where God reigns things are much better than we can imagine. His kingdom is one of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
How can it not be in our best interest for His kingdom to come? God knows what is in our best interest at every moment and in the midst of any situation. We must learn to submit to His will by trusting fully in His goodness.
With this phrase, we express the certainty of the security and protection offered by his arms of love. We know that His kingdom and His will are the best for our lives and for all of humanity. And that trust fills our hearts with peace!
V…11 (Give us our daily bread today)
As we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we recognize that God is the one who supplies our daily needs. At the same time, we learn that it is okay to mention our needs before God in prayer.
We can ask for daily bread that God supply our basic and specific needs of the day. Our petitions must also include the needs of our brothers and sisters and of all humanity. Our desire should be that we all have food, sustenance, and shelter.
We must remember that our provision comes from God and be content with what he gives us.
For example, he is the one who grants us the health and strength to be able to work and thus have enough money to buy daily bread. Everything we have is by the grace of God, let’s not forget to be humble and grateful.
V…12 (Forgive us our debts, just as we have forgiven our debtors)
The time has come to acknowledge our mistakes and ask God for forgiveness. He alone forgives us completely, restores our hearts, and gives us the opportunity for a new beginning.
It is precisely at this moment and with this attitude that we must examine our hearts to see what our willingness has been to forgive those who have committed faults against us.
Have we forgiven them? Have we shown the same mercy and grace that God has had for us?
For if you forgive others your trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive others your trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you his.
(Matthew 6:14-15)
V…13 (And do not let us fall into temptation, but deliver us from the evil oneFor yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.)
We are human and we can be weak, but God does not leave us alone in our struggle in the face of temptations and evil.
He is with us and he is more powerful than the evil one. In God, and in the armor he provides us, we have true protection from the wiles of the enemy (Ephesians 6:10-13). God fights for us and in him, we have the final victory.
All our prayers should honor and glorify God because to him belongs “the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” We do not overcome the evil one or forgive or get what we need without the intervention of our God.
Our lives are in His hands (Psalm 31:14-16) and it is thanks to our Father God that we are where we are today. Let us not cease to glorify our Lord with our prayers, our praises, and with our whole being!
