My biggest problem with ‘The Lord’s Prayer,’ ” wrote Helen in response to an online post, “is knowing which version we’re using. . . . It’s always assumed we know it by heart, but I first learned trespasses, then learned sins and now am confronted by debts and debtors. So, when ‘we will now say the Lord’s Prayer’ is announced, instead of being able to pray and mean it, I’m nervous and wondering which version to use, which rather defeats the point of saying it together aloud.”
Like Helen, you might find your mind and heart distracted from the essence of prayer for any number of reasons. Be it choice of words, varying Bible translations, or conflicting philosophies about liturgical readings, the topic of prayer, particularly the Lord’s Prayer, garners much discussion and theological debate.
By taking a closer look at Luke 11:2-4, we can see that much confusion over this passage stems from Jesus’ preamble, in which He tells His disciples, “This is how you should pray.” Many interpret His instructions to mean this is the only way you should pray. To the contrary, throughout the New Testament Jesus builds on His suggested framework of prayer. In the Gospel of Luke, for example, He directs us to:
• Pray for those who hurt you (6:28).
• Pray continually and with persistence (18:1-5).
• Pray that you will not give in to temptation (22:40,46).
Scripture emphasizes that there is power in prayer. Respectively, Jesus wanted His disciples and wants you to experience deeper fellowship with the Lord through an enriched prayer life.
Ask God to give you renewed appreciation for the Lord’s Prayer, to grant you fresh insights into the verses, and to help you find joy as you meditate on the words and lift them up to God.
More:
• 1 Chronicles 16:4
• 2 Chronicles 7:14
• Matthew 6:10
Next:
Pray the Lord’s Prayer throughout the day today. Journal about what God teaches you in response.
JMHerman on May 18, 2010 at 8:16 am
Everyone prays in there own way. My prayer relationship is in the very early morning hours before I go to work and I write, and keep prayer journals of my deepest cares, praises, repentance, thanksgiving and thoughts. My connection in writing, (because it has been my tool all my life for expressing myself) has become a very emotional and fulfilling prayer life in communicating with my Heavenly Father. And riri, I totally agree, prayer is so powerful!
mccdumaguing on June 27, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Amen!!! As we pray and give praises to our Great DAD, Satan trembles..
peg on May 18, 2010 at 9:16 am
Praying to not be tempted is very smart. To be discerning and recognize temptation will help in so many ways. Avoiding all kinds of sins.
The Lord’s prayer is sort of a pattern of how we should pray. Giving glory to God first and last. And only ask for what we will need to do His will. Not our own. It’s all about Him.
unclegene on May 18, 2010 at 9:17 am
This prayer is really an outline as to what a prayer should consist of.
1 Praise God with much more than one Halo.
2 Pray for all the areas of our lives and others which need the Kingdom of God and his will to be done and don’t forget our country and leaders.
3 “Our” means to pray for the specific needs for ourselves and others even our enemies.
4 Sin, trespasses, debts are to be confessed to God one by one not with a general statement.
5 Talk to God about each of the temptations you are facing and turn them over to Him to deliver from the evil.
Soldier4Christ on May 18, 2010 at 11:34 am
So often as in other things that are related to worship as a group we tend to get hung up on the form of worship rather than just being who we are in Christ. If your in a church and they are praying The Lord’s Prayer, you pray with them but use the words that you have learned. I don’t think God cares which version we use when we are praying. Prayer just needs to come from the heart.