I found out that I couldn’t make just one post and say everything I wanted about prayer. I was afraid of that. On this occasion, let’s look at what we commonly call The Lord’s Prayer as Jesus’ example of how we are to pray. This is the prayer he taught his followers.

“Our Father which art in heaven,” addresses the Father to let him know we are speaking to him, and reminds us who it is we pray to. The relationship is constantly before us; he is our father, and we are his children. We are children of the adoption, having been bought with a price and redeemed. “Hallowed be thy name,” since his name is holy and above all names. If we daily pray this prayer, not using God’s name in vain is almost guaranteed. “Thy kingdom come,” is both a request that God come quickly into this world, and reminds us that the kingdom of God is presently being built. We are a part of that. If you’ve been reading internet monk lately, we are reminded that heaven is closer than some of us think. “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Praying God’s will puts our prayers, requests and petitions into perspective. Can we ask that grandma be healed after surgery? Certainly. Will we quit believing in God if Grandma passes away? I hope not. God is the sovereign Lord of history and all creation. His ways are not our ways, and he has a divine purpose pre-ordained for the events of our lives, that we simply cannot see nor understand at this time. Intercede on behalf of others, cast your every care upon him, then pray that his will not your’s be done. That’s how Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.

“Give us this day our daily bread,” asks God to provide for us on a daily basis, and reminds us not worry about tomorrow. The first century Jews would have been reminded of their ancestors receiving manna from heaven. “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,” because we must forgive in order to be forgiven. Remember the parable of the unforgiving servant. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Jesus taught that we are blessed when we endure temptation. But in his final hours, he told his disciples to pray that they not fall into temptation. Enduring temptation is good, but if we can avoid be tempting at all, even better. “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and glory, forever.” This statement recognizes God for who he is, and gives him the honor and glory. To him all praise is due.

Are these some magic words that unlock the power of God to act? No, but this is the model by which we should pattern our prayer life after. Jesus’ instructions were to pray “in this manner.” Each time we pray we address our heavenly father. We should pray that his will be done, not ours. We petition him to provide for us, according to his promise. This prayer humbles us, exalts God, asks for his will, and is quite short. Jesus was crititcal of those who thought they would be heard for thier “much speaking,” remember? The Lord’s Prayer has never been a good title for this piece. The Model Prayer or even The Disciples’ Prayer are better descriptions of what it is.