Why Read About The Lord’s Prayer?

July 13, 2024 Greg McNichols

Wait. The Lord's Prayer? Why write an article on one of the world's most familiar sections of scripture? Will anyone read past the second paragraph? Will even my mom ignore the link when I send it to her? Yeah, those are all thoughts I had.

This article just scratches the surface of the Lord's Prayer and how it can impact our prayer life this week. And if my mom sticks around for the full read, I think even she—a Christian of six decades—will find value in it.

I also encourage you to read the full texts in Matthew 6:8-13 and Luke 11:1-4.

Now, let’s get started.

TEACH US TO PRAY

We can easily imagine the disciples as highly skilled at fishing and tax collecting but total newbies to the whole prayer thing. When we read that verse, we picture the disciples like football players reluctantly dragged by their coach to a yoga class for the first time, wobbling and about to face-plant into their mats while awkwardly trying to balance on one leg in the Tree Pose.

But these guys grew up in a culture where prayer was as regular as eating. They prayed daily, recited psalms, and celebrated festivals packed with prayers. What they're really saying is, "Jesus, show us YOUR way of praying." Bible scholars who dig into the Jewish context know this isn't about the disciples not knowing how to pray; it's about aligning their prayers with THEIR Rabbi’s unique connection to God. They see something powerful in how Jesus prays and want in on that. It's less about learning the mechanics and more about capturing the heart and spirit of Jesus' prayer life, like students eager to learn the deeper, transformative practice of someone they deeply admire.

OUR FATHER

When Jesus calls God "Father," think back to Deuteronomy 1:31, where Moses reminds the Israelites of their being lost in the wilderness and says, "And you saw how the LORD your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place." Picture it: God, like a protective father hoisting his kids onto his shoulders, guiding them through the wild, unknown terrain. Jesus wants us to see prayer the same way—intimate, personal, and full of trust, just like God carried Israel through the wilderness. So when Jesus says "Father," it's not just a title. It's a reminder of God's constant, nurturing presence in our lives, inviting us to lean in and trust Him with our journey.

The use of "Father" also reminds us of Isaiah 64:8, where the prophets, speaking on behalf of Israel, make this heartfelt confession: "Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." The prophets acknowledge something foundational about God’s unwavering role in our lives. He’s molding us into His likeness, carefully working out our weaknesses and imperfections. Just as a potter gently shapes the clay, smoothing rough edges and refining the form, God continually works on us, crafting us into vessels of His purpose and love. In light of Isaiah 64:8, I encourage you to occasionally open your prayer with, “Our potter who art in heaven!” Now that’s theologically accurate and funny!

HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME

Alright, let's translate this from the King James to our Ohio vernacular. "Hallowed be your name" means, "God, let people see how awesome and important you are." This isn't just about verbal respect; it's a call to action. He's telling them, “Your life should make God's name look good.” It's about showing the world who God is through our actions. As Theologian Scott Hahn points out, hallowing God’s name means living in such a way that others see His holiness through us. It’s not just a personal thing; it’s the whole church. It's a commitment to live in a way that honors God and makes His name known and respected in a world that desperately needs to see His love and holiness in action.

YOUR KINGDOM COME

When we pray, "Your kingdom come," we're asking for God's rule to become a reality in our lives. But what does that look like? If you live under someone's rule, you follow their guidelines and values. So, when we pray for God's kingdom to come, we're committing ourselves to living the way God wants us to live—where the last are first, where we turn the other cheek, and where we love our neighbors as ourselves. Saying "Your kingdom come" reaffirms to God that we want to participate in bringing heaven to earth by living a life that mirrors His rule.

Bad theology delivered through Christian thriller movies and apocalyptic books has many people praying, "God, get me out of this forsaken world and burn it all to hell!" Or, "Lord, just get me off this earth and into a cabin in the corner of Glory." But Jesus taught us that His Kingdom is already breaking into our world, and it's our blessing to be a part of that (Luke 17:20-21). When He returns, He’s bringing heaven to earth (Acts 3:21, Revelation 21:1-3). So instead of dreaming of escape, we get to participate in actively bringing God's Kingdom to the here and now!

YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN

Your “will” be done; think “desire.” Can you guess where the word “desire” is first used in the Bible? If you guessed Genesis 3:6, you nailed it. “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and desirable to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” This moment marks the first instance of human desire clashing with God's desire.

But here's the beautiful twist: when we pray "Your will be done," we engage in a powerful act of reversal. We're consciously surrendering our desires to God's desires, aligning ourselves with His will. It's like we're saying, "God, undo the disobedience of Genesis 3 in my life. Help me to choose your way over my own."

GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD

The prayer is for food for today—what is necessary for existence only on this day, in this present moment. Our request for God's provision is to be moment by moment and not W2 to W2. We're not asking for a week's supply of food, a month of stored food, bigger barns, or to be set up for life.

Let's see if I can explain this even more clearly. Picture this: the Israelites are out in the wilderness, having escaped the slavery of the Pharaoh a month earlier. But now they're wandering around the desert without a clue where their next meal is coming from. They're hungry, their stomachs are growling, and that freedom they fought so hard for? It's starting to feel like a cruel joke.

The grumbling begins. Voices dripping with hangry desperation, "Oh, that we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt!" They started reminiscing about the good old days of slavery, where they sat around pots of meat and ate all the bread they wanted. They turned their frustration towards Moses, "You brought us out into this desert to kill us with hunger."

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Look, I'm going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day." Awe! There you have it. Daily Bread. God knew in the fallen nature of humankind that as soon as we get more than is necessary for the day, we often rely less on God and increase our desire for even more stored abundance.

Unlike my mom's peanut butter cookies, I won't sugarcoat this application. Many of our prayers are pleas for God's intervention in our economic lives—pay raises, piggy banks, 401(k)s, and four-wheeled dreams. And yeah, this will make your prayer life feel like, well, like your prayer life feels—needy and boring. Why? Because Jesus' prayer was, "Give me today's portion of bread," and our prayer is, "Give me bigger paychecks."

Some of us are stuck in a loop of prayers that are the opposite of how Jesus is teaching us to pray. Jesus taught his disciples to pray for just enough provision for that day so they would have the physical energy to make his name known, bring His Kingdom with them, and fulfill God's desires.

Jesus wasn't telling the disciples to avoid working or planning for food and provision. Instead, He emphasized that provisions beyond a day fall under "all of these things shall be added to you." Your prayer life will deepen when you shift your focus from material needs to seeking God's kingdom first, trusting that He will provide what we need to accomplish His purposes each day. It’s about prioritizing the Kingdom over material security.

FORGIVE US OUR SINS AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED AGAINST US

This line packs a punch because it’s a two-way street. We’re all about asking for God’s forgiveness, but here’s the catch—we’ve got to extend that same forgiveness to others. Think about it: holding onto grudges and refusing to forgive is like saying we don’t get the whole forgiveness thing ourselves. When we truly grasp how deeply we need God’s forgiveness, it should then flow naturally from us to others.

So, who’s on your list? That hateful classmate? A friend who betrayed you? A family member who harmed you? Have you truly forgiven them, or are you still holding onto the hurt? Jesus is challenging us here. If God dealt with us the way we deal with others, how would that look? It’s a sobering thought, right?

Don’t conflate forgiveness with reconciliation. Forgiveness only requires one person’s free will—you decide to let go of the hurt and resentment. However, reconciliation is a different ball game; two people must come together humbly and be willing to repair the relationship. You might never fully reconcile with the person who wronged you, and that’s okay if the other person isn’t willing to take responsibility for their harmful actions. Forgiveness is about your peace and freedom, not fixing the relationship. It’s freeing yourself from the burden of the past so you can move forward, even if the relationship doesn’t. It also means wishing that person well and not harm, allowing you to let go and heal.

Forgiveness isn’t about letting someone off the hook for their harm; by all means, call the cops, prosecute, or turn them into children’s services, etc. Forgiveness is about freeing ourselves from the burden of resentment for their harm. Instead of clutching past wrongs, let's release them. Make forgiveness a habit, not a rare occurrence. It lightens our load to move through our day, advancing God’s desire instead of limping under the weight of our unforgiveness.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL

Jesus knew that temptation is an inevitable part of life, and sometimes, God allows us to be tested. But we’re not left to fend for ourselves. We’re praying for God to steer us clear of those moments when our resolve might falter and to rescue us from Satan, the ultimate deceiver, and his sneaky tactics.

Alright, so these tests? They’re not God setting traps for you, waiting for you to mess up. You're not praying for clues on a map to help you dodge booby traps. Instead, you’re asking God for a heads-up on the tough spots and the strength and wisdom to make the right choices when tested.

Think about Jesus in the wilderness, facing down Satan’s best shots by relying on God’s Word. Or in Gethsemane, sweating it out but still choosing His Father’s will over His own. Those are tests (temptations). In practical terms, this means staying vigilant. Recognize when you’re tested, whether it’s that urge to lash out in anger, indulge in something you know isn’t good for you, or take the easy way out instead of doing what’s right. Ask God to give you the strength to resist and the wisdom to choose His path. It’s about leaning on Him, knowing that with your Heavenly Father’s help, you can overcome whatever comes your way.

Check out the closing of this teaching, starting at timestamp 28:33, in the linked video below.