The Lord’s Prayer is the most well-known prayer in Christianity and has been said by millions of believers around the world. It is a prayer that has been taught to children and adults alike, and it is a prayer that has been prayed in many different languages. The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer of thanksgiving, confession, and petition, and it is a prayer that can bring comfort and peace to those who pray it. In this article, we’ll explore the Lord’s Prayer, its meaning, and how it can be used as a prayer for believers.
The Lord’s Prayer
“After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father, who in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen!” Matthew 6:9-13. (Luke 11:2-4.)
Meaning and explanation of The Lord’s Prayer: A Prayer for Believers
This prayer, commonly known as the “Lord’s Prayer” or “Our Father”, is probably one of the most well-known prayers among Christians and many people submit this prayer on a daily basis. But let’s take a look at what Jesus wants to teach us. He teaches his disciples this prayer after they ask him to learn to pray. (Luke 11:1.)
Our Father, Who art in heaven
He does not say “my father”, but “our father”. Jesus welcomes us into the heavenly family. We can also read this in other places. “Go to my brothers,” says Jesus after he is resurrected. The term “my brothers” is used within a family. And the author of the letter to the Hebrews quotes the Psalms: “ I will declare your name to my brothers, I will sing your praise in the midst of the congregation . ” Hebrews 2:12. Paul explains that in Jesus we have access to the Father – our Father. What an opportunity! Just think what a big brother we have!
Hallowed be thy name
It is not our name, but God’s name. How foolish to use God’s name profanely; cursing, for example, when things don’t go our way. Your name, your kingdom; it’s about God being glorified, not us. Happiness does not reside in ourselves, but outside ourselves, in our Father, the one who created us and created the earth, the Creator himself, who also wants to create something new in us and give us a completely different and new life and perspective.
Thy kingdom come
Here we see what Jesus was concerned about and what he wants to teach us. By nature, we are preoccupied with our own affairs and tend to pray more to the tune of “my kingdom come.” But what about being concerned about “His kingdom,” the kingdom of God, the coming kingdom the Bible talks about? As believers, we all agree that God offers something much better than what we can achieve as human beings here on earth. That’s why Jesus exhorts us to seek first the kingdom of God in the Sermon on the Mount. God our Father will provide everything we naturally seek, such as food, drink, shelter, etc. (Matthew 6:25-34.)
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Jesus continues in much the same way: “ Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven .” Everything in this prayer is about God’s cause, not you and me and mine. We are your representatives here on earth, preparing for the coming kingdom, your kingdom. Therefore, we must learn to know his will, so that we may learn to say with Jesus, our forerunner: “ Not my will, but yours be done..” (Luke 22:42; Hebrews 10:7-9.)
Just think, our bodies can become a temple for the Holy Spirit, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19, and we can learn to understand his will! Then life becomes completely different. Paul explains to the Athenians that God has determined the boundaries and dwellings of people, so that they would seek God and find him, even though he is not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:26-27.)
Give us this day our daily bread
Here we can easily think of natural bread, but if we seek first the kingdom of God, God will also give us everything we need. (Matthew 6:25-34.) Let’s take a look at how our forerunner had it. He says that his food was to do the will of God (John 4:34) and that he himself is the bread of life. “ For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me .” We need it as food for our spiritual growth. (John 6:27-38.)
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
Here we come to ourselves. We have sinned and are sinners by nature. This happened after the fall of Adam and Eve. Jesus is our Atonement, so we can ask for forgiveness and receive it, but we must not demand it from our debtors. Now we learn from Jesus and can do what he does and forgive our neighbors seventy times seven times a day! (Matthew 18:21-22.)
Don’t lead us into temptation
Here we ask our Father to preserve us so that we don’t get involved in situations that are not desirable and good for us. This is a good prayer to be preserved in love, for example, and as Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10, to walk in the works (God’s will) that he has prepared for us.
But deliver us from evil
There is a lot of evil here in the world. The whole world lies in evil, but we can be preserved and sanctify God’s name here in the world. However, we need help from our Heavenly Father.
We understand that we need to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this. We cannot do this alone. But we can ask for help. God gives his Spirit to those who obey him (Acts 5:32) and distributes the Spirit according to his will. (Hebrews 2:4.) We will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us. (Acts 1:8.) But we must pray to receive it and God will be happy to send it as the necessary help we need on our journey here. (Read in Luke 11 from verse 5 onwards.)
For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
So we know where to find the kingdom of God. It is not of this earth. All power and glory is with God our Father, so let us seek him with all our heart and with all our desire and strength, and then we shall find him. Because: “ Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ” Matthew 7:7.
why is the lord’s prayer important?
The Lord’s Prayer is one of the most famous and important prayers in the history of Christianity. It was given to us by Jesus himself, and has been used by generations of believers for nearly two thousand years. In its brief but powerful words, it encapsulates the essence of the Christian faith.
The Lord’s Prayer is important because it shows us how to talk to God. It teaches us the kind of attitude and response that is expected from a believer. We are called to be humble and obedient in our relationship with God, entrusting our lives and all our needs into his loving hands. Through this prayer, we learn to seek God’s will above all else and to place our faith in Him as our ultimate source of strength and guidance.
The Lord’s Prayer also serves as a reminder of God’s unconditional love for us. As we recite this prayer, it helps us to focus on God and His goodness. It is an expression of our faith that God will answer our prayers, and offer us His comfort and grace in times of need.
Finally, the Lord’s Prayer is a model of how we can form meaningful relationships with those around us. The words “Our Father” remind us that we are all children of God and part of one great family. As such, we must always strive to treat each other with respect and kindness, as we do when we pray to God.
In summary, the Lord’s Prayer is an incredibly important part of Christianity and a great source of strength for believers. Through it, we can draw closer to God, experience His love and mercy, and show love towards our fellow man.
