The Gravity of the Lord’s Prayer
Scripture
7) “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. 8) Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9) Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10) Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11) Give us this day our daily bread,
12) and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
14) For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15) but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:7-15
Substance
Though barely fifty words in length, the sheer gravity of the Lord’s Prayer cannot be overstated. It was the first prayer Jesus taught and instructed His disciples to pray, forming a foundation for Christian devotion. Today, the world’s three largest Christian communions (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican) representing over 1.5 billion believers, typically recite the Lord’s Prayer during their Sunday worship services each week. In the book To Be A Christian, An Anglican Catechism, it states the Lord’s Prayer is “a pattern by which we shape all our prayers...it establishes a central core of prayers for our entire life in Christ.”
“Throughout scripture however, we can see that Jesus lived a very disciplined and sophisticated life of prayer”
Discerning the Lord’s Prayer is not difficult: we honor God as holy and sovereign, invite His authority into our lives and the world, ask for our daily needs, seek forgiveness for our sins, and pray for strength to resist temptation. In essence, if this is the only prayer we pray, it leaves nothing out. Throughout scripture however, we can see that Jesus lived a very disciplined and sophisticated life of prayer, so we too should live by His example and aim higher than the bare minimum.
Developing an intentional daily prayer habit, as I believe Jesus is encouraging in this scripture, requires time, attention, and patience, three things we’re not exactly stoked to relinquish. But what other choice do we really have? I was very-recently reminded of life’s brevity when I learned an old-friend died in a plane crash. Our eyes could close for the last time at any moment, likely when we least expect it, and then in an instant we’re standing before the author of life itself. Meeting God for the first time would likely feel far more peaceful if it were like embracing someone you’ve always known, yet never seen face to face, rather than meeting a complete stranger.
If you’re looking to begin or deepen your daily prayer habit, The Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, is a great starting point. It’s as simple as reciting the prayer when you first wake up or before sleep. A prayer book can also offer some structure and inspiration, though books shouldn’t completely replace your own prayers. Consider adding titles like The Psalter, The Book of Common Prayer, Orthodox Christian Prayers, or the Book of Hours to your library as helpful guides on the journey (book covers below).
Though my daily prayer rule can be inconsistent at times, it has had a profound impact on my spiritual well-being, and I see its influence in the world around me, from my workplace, and dinner table, to unexpected divine encounters.
