Lord's Prayer Meditation

(Luke 11:1-13 & Matthew 6:5-13 with explanations from Luther’s Catechism and reflective questions)

INTRODUCTION -- Our FATHER who art in heaven.

With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.

What does it mean to us that we can address God as “Father” (Abba-papa)?

1 -  Hallowed be Thy NAME.  (The Father’s Character)

God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!

At Jesus’ time, a name was more than a label, but was descriptive of a person’s character.  What is your favorite name for God and why?  How do you “dishonor” His name … “glorify” His name?

2  -- Thy KINGDOM come.  (The Father’s activity)
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.  (John 18:36; 3:3; Luke 10:1-12; 17:20-21; Mark 12:28-34)

What does the “Kingdom of God” mean to you and to your ministry?  How does God want to use you?

3 -- THY WILL be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.

How do we know (discern) God’s will for us?   Are you willing to let go of “your will” and live in God’s will?

4 -- Give us this day our daily BREAD. (The Father’s provision)

Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.  (Matthew 6:24-34)

How does God take care of you?  Do you live in gratitude each day?   In what areas of your life do you find a hard time trusting and depending on  God?

5 -- And FORGIVE us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.   (The Father’s Forgiveness)

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

Our primary need in our spiritual journey is forgiveness.  Do you agree?  Who in your life has forgiven you?  Is their anyone you refuse to forgive?  What does resentment do to you?

6 -- And lead us not into TEMPTATION.  (The Father’s Protection)         

(“Do not bring us to the time of trial” NRSV)

God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

What in your life tempts you?  What do you need deliverance from?

7 -- But DELIVER us from evil. (some say “the evil one”)

We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

Doxology  (I Chronicles 29:11-13) -- For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, amen means “yes, yes, it shall be so.”

Why do we add this doxology to our Lord’s words?  How might this help us in our prayer?