Below The Lord’s Prayer is presented in bite sized phrases followed by a few questions that may engage your prayerful reflections and language in prayer with God. (Matt. 6:9-13)
Take a few moments today to breathe, slow down, and utilize the words of Jesus to enter more deeply into God’s heart. Spend moments talking with God honestly about whatever emerges from your heart. Linger on the petitions most relevant to you today.
Our Father …
- How do you experience the parental love and care of God in your life?
- Have you experienced other believers as fathers or mothers giving parent care to you?
- How do these people image God as Father to you?
in heaven…
- Does God feel near as the air you breathe or as distant as the eternal heavens?
hallowed be your name…(or let your name be respected)i
- How do you understand God’s name as holy?
- How might you practice respecting God’s name in your life?
- How might you concretely reflect God’s holy name on earth?
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
- How have you experienced God’s rule and reign in your life?
- In what ways might you be a collaborative partner in God’s kingdom on earth?
- Are there places you’d like to see God’s kingdom break in with regard to you own heart, your family, your neighborhood, your world?
Give us today our daily bread.
- What needs has God met in your life?
- Where have you experienced your needs not being met?
- Do you have needs today you’d like to ask God to meet? Take a moment to simply ASK.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
- Are there people and debts (sins, injuries, places of animosity) that need your forgiveness?
- What do you need forgiveness for?
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
- What areas are you most susceptible to temptation?
- Where are you feeling most oppressed, challenged, overly burdened or struggling in trials of faith? Take a moment to seek God’s strength and mercy in your weakness.
Conclude your prayer with moments of praise:
For Thine is the kingdom, and power,
and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
– Elizabeth Khorey
– [read Part I]
i Willard, Dallas, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, Harper Publishing, San Francisco, CA. 1997, 258.