My mother-in-law Pam was a woman who prayed fervently for her family. One of my earliest memories of her was seeing her in the early morning sitting in the window seat of her dining room, with a cup of hot coffee in her hands, gazing out on the fields behind her home, and knowing that she was praying; praying for her sons, praying for me. I observed this in her always. She prayed. Since she passed away in July, I have had a few dreams of her and my husband’s dad (who passed away when my husband was 4) praying. I think, now more than ever, that she is praying and that thought is comforting!

Matthew 6:5-13 says, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.”

The Lord’s Prayer gives us a beautiful framework in which to structure our prayers. I am not sure it was truly meant to be recited by rote without really thinking about what we are saying. So, let’s look at what it is saying.

First, before we can ask for anything, we have to come into the Lord’s presence. Jesus tells us to address the Father first by saying, “Our Father in heaven.” How can we do this? It is only through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to come into the presence of God and call Him our Father. Jesus bridged the gap between heaven and earth. John 14:6 says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Second, what does Jesus want us to pray?

1. He wants us to hallow the name of His Father. (The ABC’s of Who God is)
2. He wants us to ask the Father for His kingdom to come.
3. He wants us to ask that His will be done in our lives on earth as it is in heaven. What is is will?
   • I Thessalonians 5:16-17 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 
   • Be cheerful, prayerful, and thankful.
4. He wants us to ask that He give us what we need just for this day – our daily bread.
5. He wants us to forgive as we have been forgiven.
   • How has He forgiven us?
     • Psalm 103:1-5 says, “ Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
6. He wants us to come to Him asking for protection from temptation and deliverance from evil.

So, here is and example of how I might pray that Lord’s prayer for myself:

Dear Heavenly Father,

• I thank you that I can come to You today and call You Father through Jesus, Your Son by the power of Your Holy Spirit.
• Hallowed be Your Name! Lord, I know who you are. You are Almighty. (We looked at this last week.)
• May your kingdom come today through rescue or revival.
• While I wait for that day, may your will be done in my life as it is in heaven. Help me Lord to love and treasure You. Help me to love who I am in You. I am adopted into Your family. (We looked at this last week as well.) Help me to love my husband and children well. May I be cheerful, prayerful, and thankful. I want to be a doer of Your word and not a hearer only.
• Lord, I pray that You would give me all that I need just for today knowing that you are over yesterday and are over tomorrow.
• Father, help me to forgive as you have forgiven me knowing that love does not keep a record of wrongs. (I Corinthians 13:5)
• And lastly, I ask for protection from temptation and evil. In Jesus name, Amen

When You Pray…..

Would you please join me in praying?

Daily (Tweak this as needed)

1. Yourself
2. Spouse
3. Children/Grandchildren

Weekly (Tweak this as needed)

1. Monday – Parents, Siblings, Nieces & Nephews
2. Tuesday – Church Family
3. Wednesday – Your extended family: grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins
4. Thursday – Your spouse’s extended family.
5. Friday – Friends
6. Saturday – Neighbors
7. Sunday – Government