our father prayer essay

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Whose Father in heaven?

In matthew, the lord’s prayer is a prayer for enemies..

When Jesus begins the prayer that has come to be called the Lord’s Prayer with the words “Our Father” (Matt. 6:9), who is included in his “our”?

In the history of the prayer’s interpretation, “our” has sometimes been understood expansively: the crowd, all people, all of creation. It has also been understood narrowly: the children of Abraham, the Jewish people, anyone who has accepted that Jesus is the Christ, the disciples.

One possibility that has been missing from the debate is that the “our” is at once far more universal and far more specific than the tradition has allowed. I’m convinced that the “our” in the Our Father includes both the person praying and that person’s enemies. The prayer is teaching us how to pray for our enemies.

Consider the prayer’s context within the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus gives the crowd extensive instructions on how to deal with those whom they consider their enemies and those who are persecuting them. This culminates in his admonition to “love your enemies and pray for your persecutors” (Matt. 5:44). This context is essential in understanding what it means that Jesus tells the people to be the “salt of the earth” or what to do if someone takes you to court. That same focus remains when Jesus teaches the crowds how to pray: the “our” is both us and those with whom we are fighting.

If this sounds unusual to us, it might have sounded even more so to Jesus’ first listeners. These weren’t just any people. Jesus’ crowd was the poor, the underclass, the socially despised. They would have been persecuted by many people, and many people would have had a great deal of power over them. The question of how to be in relation to these people was not an abstract one; this is one reason Jesus focuses so extensively on it.

Reading and preaching the Sermon on the Mount for decades, I missed this context until I decided to memorize the text in biblical Greek and set it to music. Recognizing how awful my rote memory skills were, I decided to look for patterns in the text that would make my task easier. The patterns I found suggest that the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 is not in a separate section at all but is directly connected to Jesus’ insistence on praying for persecutors in Matthew 5:44.

After telling the crowd to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors, Jesus then tells them why they should do this. They have a connection to those people: the Father (our Father) who gives sunshine and rain on both the “good” and the “bad” (Matt. 5:45). This also clarifies the instruction to pray for their persecutors. Initially this would likely sound as outrageous as asking them to love instead of hate their enemies. But Jesus then reminds them that “even the most despised tax collectors can love their friends,” and he asks them to do better than that: to be perfect like the Father who gives sun and rain to the good and the evil, the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45–48).

Does he then change the subject at the beginning of what we call chapter 6? I would argue he does not. The connection is clearer in Greek. In the same way that “pay” sounds like “pray” in English, the first word of chapter 6 is prosecheteh , which means, “Pay attention!” We might expect him to instead say prosuchestheh (“pray”), because this would continue the previous thought. The soundalike words add rhetorical force. Jesus is saying, in effect, Before I tell you how to pray for those who persecute you, pay attention! Let me tell you how not to pray for them: don’t make big public gestures of righteousness .

This is the centerpiece of three actions that Jesus says should not be done in front of people (almsgiving, prayer, and fasting), in contrast with three things he just said should be: gentleness, mercy, and peacemaking. “Let your light shine so that people see your good works and glorify the Father” (Matt. 5:16). This contrast creates further rhetorical tension (and makes the passage easier to remember).

Jesus then turns to the matter at hand: how to pray for those who persecute you. First you acknowledge the connection that you share: Our Father . Then you acknowledge that over which you are in conflict: our daily bread . The Lord’s Prayer becomes a prayer about conflict and ultimately one that teaches peace and empathy. And each of the phrases begins to connect more powerfully to the others.

Although it is impossible to know how the first listeners heard this prayer, I can imagine it must have grabbed their attention. It must have seemed outrageous compared to what they would normally do—pray against their enemies. And in each phrase of the prayer for persecutors, the outrage and rhetorical force only grows.

Imagine how it might have felt to hear “Our Father”—that is, the Father of both me and the one who is taking my food, livelihood, health, shelter, safety, family. Jesus focuses attention on the conflict by asking the crowd to pray, ”Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Because if it is God’s will being done, my persecutors would not be hurting me like this. God’s will is to fix this, right?

Then Jesus adds to this demanding prayer. Give my persecutors and me the very necessity they are denying me. Why should I ask that the bad guys who stole my bread, housing, or family be given the very things they are taking from me? They don’t deserve those things. They are the bad guys. I deserve them. I am the one who worked for them. If they came by here now, I would attack them and take my bread back. The rhetorical force of the prayer is growing, as is my attention and likely my outrage as I consider this odd-sounding request to ask that the Father give what is needed to survive to the very ones who have taken it from me.

In this reading of the prayer, “Forgive us” is not a generic nicety. It is a request that I be forgiven along with the person who has taken from me. Wait! The thieves stole it; I didn’t. They need forgiveness, not me. At this point wouldn’t I be far more inclined to ask God to make those people rot in hell for what they have done?

But perhaps I start to remember the words Jesus spoke just moments before: “Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty” (Matt. 5:22), guilty as if they had committed murder. Getting angry like this lands me in the company of the persecutors. Not only have I perhaps done something comparable at some time in my life, but at this very moment, I am doing a greater evil.

Jesus has just flipped things around on me. I was the pure, innocent victim in solidarity only with other victims; now I am also in solidarity with my own victimizers, with the persecutors. At this moment, I have the opportunity to gain peace by both receiving forgiveness and giving it to the ones who robbed me of mine.

Finally, the grand bargain appears. At the height of my rage I’m told to ask for forgiveness based on how forgiving I am toward this person I want to murder a million times over. The implicit question: If the Father, the judge of all judges, gives me a pop quiz to examine how forgiving I am, would I pass or fail? The obvious answer is that I would fail. No wonder then that the very next phrase in the prayer is “and lead us not into testing”—because if we were to be tested we would fail, and the consequences to us would be most disastrous since we would become the ones not forgiven. And then the inevitable conclusion: “deliver us from evil,” from the consequences of our failure to forgive. This sequence drives us to humility and to a frame of mind that allows us to receive the gift of forgiveness, which in turn motivates us to give that gift to others.

If there were any doubt about the rhetorical force of his instructions, Jesus concludes the prayer in Matthew with a challenge: “So if you forgive them, then the Father will forgive you; but if you don’t forgive them, then He will not forgive you” (Matt. 6:14–15). This is the closing bracket to the difficult question of how to pray for those who persecute you.

Jesus has offered a step-by-step way to peace for those whose peace has been broken, a way to become peacemakers even to those who were responsible for their loss. The way to peace and freedom is to find solidarity with the persecutors, to recognize them as members of your own family, and then to ask and to offer forgiveness. By adopting a way to pray for those responsible for our worst-case conflict, it makes it possible for us to pray for all the lesser cases. The alternative to not forgiving in this way would be to miss out on experiencing peace, on becoming a new peacemaker—and to risk becoming the next peacebreaker.

A version of this article appears in the print edition under the title “Whose Father?"

Charles Manto

Charles Manto is author of “Our Father”: The Lord’s Prayer for Our Persecutors . He lives in Arnold, Maryland.

We would love to hear from you. Let us know what you think about this article by writing a letter to the editors .

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The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer, oftentimes referred to as the “Our Father Prayer”, is perhaps the most popular prayer in all of Christianity. It is known in many languages and is recited around the world.

There are several different versions of the “Our Father Prayer”, though the most popular is the Catholic version with the doxology on the end:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Greek Version of the Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer was originally written in Greek, and all subsequent versions were translated from the Greek version:

The Original in Greek

Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου· ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου· γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς· τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον· καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφήκαμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν· καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.

When to Say The Lord’s Prayer

Many people say the Our Father prayer as a daily prayer either in the morning or in the evening. Most Christian congregations say the prayer once during the service.

I say this prayer whenever I’m feeling lost or without purpose. The prayer is so simple and short yet has such a nice flow to it. Whenever and wherever you say it, may God be with you when you do.

Watch this beautiful rendition of the Lord’s Prayer

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What is the Profound Significance of the “Our Father” Prayer?

Our Father Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The “Our Father” prayer, also known as the Lord’s Prayer, is a cornerstone of Christian spirituality and a testament to the profound teachings of Jesus Christ. This prayer, found in the Gospel of Matthew (6:9-13), encapsulates the essence of Christian doctrine and the relationship between humanity and the divine.

The Essence of “Our Father”

The prayer begins with “Our Father, who art in Heaven,” immediately establishing a personal and collective relationship with God. This opening acknowledges God as a loving parent, emphasizing the familial bond shared by all of humanity under His care. It’s a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness, not just with God but with each other, transcending all barriers of race, nationality, and creed.

Hallowed Be Thy Name

“Hallowed be thy name” is a declaration of reverence for God. It’s an invitation to sanctify His name in our lives, recognizing His holiness and sovereignty. This line calls us to live in a way that honors and reflects the sanctity of God, encouraging us to embody His virtues in our daily lives.

Thy Kingdom Come

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” is a profound statement of hope and aspiration. It’s a prayer for the realization of God’s kingdom on Earth, a world where His principles of love, justice, and peace prevail. This line is a commitment to align our actions with God’s will, working towards a world that mirrors the harmony and righteousness of Heaven.

Our Daily Bread

“Give us this day our daily bread” addresses our physical and spiritual needs. It’s a humble request for sustenance and a reminder of our dependence on God for all things. This line teaches us to trust in God’s provision and to focus on the present, seeking His guidance and provision for each day.

Forgiveness and Temptation

“And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” highlights the importance of forgiveness. It acknowledges our imperfections and the need for God’s mercy, while also calling us to extend the same forgiveness to others. This mutual forgiveness is essential for healing and reconciliation in our relationships.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” is a plea for guidance and protection. It recognizes our vulnerability to sin and the presence of evil in the world. This line is a request for God’s strength to resist temptation and to be preserved from the harm and deceit of malevolent forces.

2. What is the significance of “Thy kingdom come” in the “Our Father” prayer?

Answer: “Thy kingdom come” is a profound expression of hope and aspiration for the establishment of God’s kingdom on Earth. It reflects the desire for a world governed by God’s principles of love, justice, and peace. This line is not only a prayer but also a commitment from the believers to align their actions with God’s will, actively working towards creating a world that mirrors the harmony and righteousness of Heaven.

3. How does the “Our Father” prayer guide us in dealing with daily needs and temptations?

Answer: The line “Give us this day our daily bread” in the “Our Father” prayer addresses our everyday needs, asking for sustenance and guidance. It teaches reliance on God for daily provisions, both physical and spiritual. Furthermore, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” is a plea for strength and protection against sin and evil influences. It acknowledges human vulnerability and seeks divine assistance in overcoming temptations and adversities.

The “Our Father” prayer is a comprehensive guide for living a life that honors God and serves others. It covers every aspect of human existence – our relationship with God, our needs, our sins, and our struggles. It’s a prayer that unites Christians worldwide, transcending denominational boundaries and echoing the heart of Jesus’ teachings.

Incorporating this prayer into our daily lives can transform our perspective, aligning our desires with God’s will and deepening our understanding of His nature. It’s a prayer that calls us to action, to live out the values of the Kingdom of God here on Earth, fostering a world of compassion, justice, and peace.

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The Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

'The Lord's Prayer 'is truly the summary of the whole gospel.' 'Since the Lord... after handling over the practice of prayer, said elsewhere, 'Ask and you will receive, ' and since everyone has petitions which are peculiar to his circumstances, the regular and appropriate prayer (the Lord's Prayer) is said first, as the foundation of further desires.'

- Tertullian, De orat. from the Catechism of the Catholic Church; 2761.

What Is the Meaning of the Lord's Prayer?

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The Lord's Prayer is a common name for the Our Father, the prayer that Christ taught to His disciples when they asked Him how to pray ( Luke 11:1-4 ). The name "The Lord's Prayer" is used more often today by Protestants than by Catholics; however, the English translation of the Novus Ordo Mass refers to the recitation of the Our Father as the Lord's Prayer. The prayer is also known as the Pater Noster, after the first two words of the prayer in Latin.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Meaning of the Lord's Prayer, Line by Line

The best way to understand the Lord's Prayer is to break it down line by line. If something seems confusing, you can always consult an authoritative source such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church , which explains the prayer in detail.

Our Father: God is "our" Father, the Father not only of Christ but of all of us. We pray to Him as brothers and sisters to Christ, and to one another.

Who art in Heaven: God is in Heaven, but that does not mean that He is distant from us. He is exalted above all of Creation, but He is also present throughout Creation. Our true home is with Him.

Hallowed be thy name: To "hallow" is to make holy; God's Name is "hallowed," holy, above all others. But this isn't simply a statement of fact—it's a petition to God the Father. As Christians, we desire that all honor God's name as holy, because acknowledging God's holiness draws us into the right relationship with Him.

Thy kingdom come: The kingdom of God is His reign over all mankind. It is not simply the objective fact that God is our king, but also our acknowledgment of His reign. We look forward to the coming of His kingdom at the end of time, but we also work toward it today by living our lives as He wishes us to live them.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven: We work toward the coming of the kingdom of God by conforming our lives to His will. With these words, we petition God to help us know and carry out His will in this life, and for all mankind to do so as well.

Give us this day our daily bread: With these words, we petition God to provide us with everything that we need (rather than want). "Our daily bread" is that which is essential for everyday life. That does not mean simply the food and other goods that keep our physical body alive, but that which nourishes our souls as well. For that reason, the Catholic Church has always seen "our daily bread" as a reference not only to everyday food but to the Bread of Life, the Eucharist —Christ's own Body, present to us in Holy Communion .

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us: This petition is the most challenging part of the Lord's Prayer because it requires us to act before God responds. We have asked Him already to help us know His will and to do it; here, we ask Him to forgive us our sins—but only after we have forgiven the sins of others against us. We beg God to show us mercy, not because we deserve it but rather because we do not; but we must first show mercy toward others, especially when we think that they do not deserve it.

And lead us not into temptation: This petition seems puzzling at first, because we know that God does not tempt us; temptation is the work of the devil. Here, knowledge of the Greek word translated into English as "lead" is helpful. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, "the Greek means both 'do not allow us to enter into temptation' and 'do not let us yield to temptation.'" A temptation is a trial; in this petition we ask God to keep us from entering into trials that test our faith and virtue, and to keep us strong when we must face such trials.

But deliver us from evil: The English translation again hides the full meaning of this final petition. The "evil" here is not just bad things; in the Greek, it is "the evil one"—that is, Satan himself, the one who tempts us. We pray first not to enter into Satan's trials, and not to yield when he does tempt us, and then we beg God to deliver us from Satan's grasp. So why is the standard translation not more specific ("deliver us from the Evil One")? Because, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, "when we ask to be delivered from the Evil One, we pray as well to be freed from all evils, present, past, and future, of which he is the author or instigator."

The Doxology: The words "For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever" are not actually part of the Lord's prayer, but a doxology —a liturgical form of praise to God. They are used in the Mass and the Eastern Divine Liturgy, as well as in Protestant services, but they are not properly part of the Lord's Prayer, nor do they have to be included when saying the Lord's Prayer outside of Christian liturgy.

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Home » Reflection on the “Our Father”

Reflection on the “Our Father”

By Cecily Lowe
27 September AD 2019
One Comment

Pretty much every Christian of every denomination or lack thereof learns the “ Our Father ” — also called “The Lord’s Prayer” — at a young age. It is regarded as one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith. Indeed, as the prayer that Christ Himself taught us , it should have a place of importance in all Christians’ prayer lives. After all, Our Lord would not have given it to us had He not had good reason for it. Recently, this prayer had been running through my head, and I realized that, though its words may seem simple, they have great meaning for us all.

Our Father…

Here, in the very first two words of the prayer, Christ already teaches us something important. God is not a cruel, impersonal entity ruling over us according to His whims, but our Father. This is a change from the Old Testament, where as I understand it, God was distant from His people, since by the Fall man lost his destined closeness with God, and it was only with the coming of Christ that he was able to regain it. In fact, Jesus telling His followers that God is our Father helped to show His own purpose in coming in two different ways, first, that the temporary distance God kept with the Jews was over and He wanted a relationship with everyone, and second, telling us what this relationship should be, that we are not servants who fear an impossible-to-please judge, but God’s children.

This is not to say we should not still try to please God and obey His commandments; of course we should obey Him, but out of love rather than fear. This simple phrase “Our Father” tells us that God loves us as His children, and that correspondingly we should love Him as children love their fathers. Alternatively, since He is described simply as “Our Father” instead of the more specific “Our Heavenly Father,” perhaps it is meant to convey that we are to regard God as our true father, where earthly men are only images of Him.

…Who Art in Heaven…

This phrase has multiple different meanings. It could be interpreted as showing that our Heavenly Father is distinct from our earthly one, or, again, that our only real Father is He Who art in Heaven. After all, there is no possible way we could exist without Him, yet we could have existed with a different earthly father if that were His will. Additionally, remembering that the Father we are addressing is in Heaven (to put His existence in imperfect earthly terms) helps to remind us that He is greater than we—and, too, that we, as His children, are also destined for something greater than earth alone.

…Hallowed be Thy Name.

This part of the prayer shows further continuity with the Old Testament, where God’s Name was so holy that only the high priests were permitted to utter It, and only once a year. “Hallowed be Thy Name” shows that He is the same God Who saved the Jews, and His Name is still sacred, but now we, the laity, are not just permitted but instructed to speak It by His Son, another sign of the new relationship with God that Christ brought.

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done…

Here is stressed the importance of obedience to God. This even better shows the reality that we are God’s children, since all good children should be obedient to their parents.

…On Earth as it is in Heaven.

This is a reminder that, although earth is not and will never be Heaven, we should continue to do our Heavenly Father’s will just as though we could see Him right in front of us. In fact, an ideal earth would be more like Heaven, because if all on earth were as God intended it, though it certainly would not be paradise because it would always have some level of sin, it would be a lot nearer to it, since a pivotal attribute of the goodness of Heaven is that every soul in it is perfectly conforming its will to God’s.

Give us This Day Our Daily Bread…

This continues with the paternal imagery, since it is typical of an earthly father to provide for his children’s needs, so it makes sense that the Heavenly Father would do the same. Some might also say this phrase refers to Heavenly food rather than earthly; that is, to the Body of Christ. That parallel also reinforces the idea of our Heavenly Father, because the only reason we have the Eucharist at all is because Christ perfectly obeyed the will of His Father. Additionally, the Eucharist is vital for eternal life in a way that earthly bread is not. In this way our Heavenly Father, with full cooperation of His Son, provides us with what we most need.

And Forgive us Our Trespasses…

It makes sense that a loving Heavenly Father would forgive His children when they offend Him. But, what this phrase helps to reinforce is that we must ask for His forgiveness. It is not something to which we are entitled automatically, any more than children are entitled to forgiveness from their earthly fathers. In fact, thinking we are “entitled” to anything from our Heavenly Father is an offense, showing indifference and ingratitude to His generosity. Recognizing that we should ask in order to obtain forgiveness, although we do not and could never deserve it, shows at least the beginnings of the love that we should all have for our Heavenly Father.

As we Forgive Those who Trespass Against us…

Still, for Him it is not enough to just desire His forgiveness once, though He freely gives it. He wants to make us, His children, over in His own image, such that our wills may be perfectly confined to His, just like Christ’s was, that we may also love good and hate evil. This is one reason why we are charged with forgiving those who trespass against us.

And Lead Us Not into Temptation…

Of course a loving Father would not want us to be tempted… without good reason. Why, then, do we say “lead us not into temptation,” and what could such a good reason be? Well, as I understand it (I believe St. Faustina may have mentioned this in her Diary), when we successfully resist temptations, whether they are small or huge, we give Him greater glory than if there had been no evil to reject. With that in mind, though there is no need to change the wording that Christ taught us, the entirety of our request might be more precisely phrased as “lead us not into temptation that we cannot resist.” After all, if my thinking is correct, temptations can bring us even closer to God than we would be otherwise, having given up the lure of an evil masquerading as a good for love of Him.

…But Deliver Us from Evil.

This petition might be the most important, since almost all the others share in it. For example, there is evil in failing to praise God’s Name, and a different kind of evil in a lack of daily bread. The single phrase “deliver us from evil” encompasses them all. Aside from the fact that the Heavenly Father is the archetype for all earthly fathers, who should seek to keep their children from evil, if the Heavenly Father did not deliver us from evil we could never be His. Thus, we are not merely asking for freedom, though that is part of the petition. Most importantly, in “deliver us from evil” we are asking to be His children, not by His desire alone as expressed in the words “Our Father,” but by our own wish, especially since the evil often comes from within ourselves as well as without. Once we allow Him to deliver us from evil, then we can become really, truly His, as He desires us to be.

A Suggestion

The Our Father is a prayer of confession (“Our Father Who art in Heaven…”), praise (“hallowed be thy name”), and petition (“give us this day our daily bread… and lead us not into temptation”). By understanding the prayer we can better understand the God Who gave it to us. It makes sense that God the Father would want us to know and praise Him. But, remembering that the Son of God Himself instructed us with this prayer, it is mind-boggling that God would not only desire us for His own, but desire us to the point of wanting and teaching us to desire Him in return.

I’m sure there is much more that could be said about this seemingly simple prayer that I could not explain in such a short essay, but I will close with a suggestion. Next time you choose to pray The Our Father, instead of reciting it by rote, try to remember that the words hold a meaning deeper than their surface alone. Even though what I have said here is incomplete, the single most important thing to remember about the Our Father is that, like all true prayer, it is a declaration of mutual love between God and man. If we keep this in mind, our recitation of it can bear much fruit, whether we choose to say one Our Father or 1000.

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The Lord’s Prayer (KJV)

The Lords Prayer church and mountain stream

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” The Lord’s Prayer (KJV)

Introduction to the Lord’s prayer

The Lord’s Prayer KJV, found in the King James Version of the Bible, is more than a prayer; it is a profound framework for understanding our relationship with God and a guide for living a life of faith.

This prayer, taught by Jesus Christ, encapsulates the core principles of Christian spirituality and offers timeless wisdom for believers.

Understanding the Significance of The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer has been subject to various theological interpretations over the centuries.

The prayer begins with the words “Our Father,” emphasizing the intimate relationship between God and humanity. This interpretation highlights the importance of viewing God as a loving father figure who cares for His children.

Furthermore, the prayer consists of seven petitions, each addressing a different aspect of faith and daily life.

These petitions include acknowledging God’s holiness, seeking His will to be done on earth, asking for daily bread, forgiveness of sins, protection from temptation, and deliverance from evil.

These interpretations offer a framework for believers to approach God with their needs and desires.

Line by Line Analysis of The Lord’s Prayer

This line starts the prayer by calling God our Father, showing that we’re all part of God’s family. It reminds us that God is above us all, watching over us.
This part is about honoring God’s name. It’s like saying, “God, your name is very special and important.”
Here, we’re hoping for the day when God’s ways are followed by everyone on earth. It’s like asking for a world where God’s peace and fairness are everywhere.
This line means we want what God wants. We’re asking for God’s plans to happen here on earth just like they do in heaven.
We’re asking God to take care of our basic needs each day, like food. It shows we rely on God for everything we need to live.
This part is about saying sorry for our mistakes and forgiving others for theirs. It’s a reminder to not hold grudges and to ask for forgiveness.
Here, we ask God to help us stay away from bad choices and protect us from harmful situations. It’s about asking for guidance to make good decisions.
This ending praises God, saying that He’s the ruler, powerful, and glorious forever. It’s a way to end the prayer by celebrating God’s greatness.

Each part of the Lord’s Prayer has a special meaning, helping us talk to God about our family, our needs, our mistakes, and how much we respect and need Him in our lives.

A note on seeking forgiveness

Additionally, seeking forgiveness and offering forgiveness to others demonstrates the importance of reconciliation and the restoration of relationships within the Christian faith.

Acknowledging our own shortcomings and extending forgiveness fosters a spirit of humility and love among believers.

Forgiveness is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith.

It is a recognition of our own imperfections and a willingness to extend grace and mercy to others, just as God has shown us.

By seeking forgiveness and offering forgiveness, believers cultivate an environment of love , understanding, and reconciliation.

The final petitions ask for protection against temptation and deliverance from evil. These requests acknowledge the challenges and potential pitfalls in life, emphasizing the need for God’s guidance and strength to overcome the trials we face.

Recognizing the reality of temptation and evil in the world, believers turn to God for protection and deliverance. These petitions affirm our dependence on Him and our trust in His power to shield us from harm. They remind us that we are not alone in our struggles and that God is always ready to provide the strength and support we need.

Key takeaways from The Lords Prayer

Starting each day with divine focus.

Incorporating the Lord’s Prayer KJV into your morning routine can profoundly impact your day. Reciting “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” helps center your thoughts on God’s plan, setting a foundation of spiritual focus and surrender from the day’s outset.

Crafting Individual Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer KJV offers a balanced structure for your own personal prayers. It encourages starting with worship , moving to personal petitions, and ending with glorifying God, ensuring that prayers encompass adoration, request, and praise.

Living in Gratitude and Dependence on God

“Give us this day our daily bread” is a powerful reminder of God’s provision. Reflecting on this daily builds a heart of gratitude and a mindset of dependence on God for both physical and spiritual nourishment.

Healing Relationships through Forgiveness

The plea for forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer KJV, “as we forgive our debtors,” is a daily call to practice forgiveness. This aspect of the prayer encourages healing past hurts and maintaining healthy , forgiving relationships.

Navigating Life’s Temptations and Trials

The request “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” is a plea for God’s guidance and protection. This line is a daily reminder to seek divine wisdom in making choices and to rely on God’s strength in overcoming life’s challenges.

Daily Acknowledgment of God’s Sovereignty

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever,” is a powerful affirmation of God’s eternal reign. This acknowledgment reinforces our faith and reminds us of God’s omnipotence and glory.

Finding Peace in Divine Words

In moments of stress and anxiety , the Lord’s Prayer KJV can be a source of comfort and peace. Reciting the prayer slowly and mindfully can help calm the mind and remind us of God’s presence and control over all situations.

Instilling Spiritual Values from a Young Age

Teaching the Lord’s Prayer KJV to children is a way to instill essential spiritual values early in life. It provides a simple yet profound framework for understanding prayer and developing a relationship with God.

Uniting Believers in Common Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer KJV holds a special place in communal worship. Reciting it together in church or group settings fosters a sense of unity and shared faith, reminding us of our collective journey in Christ.

Deepening Spiritual Connection through Meditation

Using the Lord’s Prayer KJV in meditative practices can deepen your spiritual connection. Meditating on each line of the prayer allows for a deeper understanding and a more intimate experience of its profound truths.

Celebrating God’s Goodness

In times of joy and thanksgiving, the Lord’s Prayer KJV can be a declaration of gratitude and recognition of God’s blessings. It reminds us to attribute our successes and happiness to God’s grace and mercy.

The Lord’s Prayer as a Tool for Meditation and Reflection

Beyond recitation, The Lord’s Prayer can be a powerful tool for meditation and reflection. Each line offers profound spiritual insights that can be pondered and internalized. By focusing on individual phrases and allowing them to resonate, believers can gain a deeper understanding of their relationship with God and His purpose for their lives.

For example, the line “Give us this day our daily bread” invites contemplation on the concept of daily sustenance. It reminds individuals to acknowledge and appreciate the blessings of nourishment, both physical and spiritual, that are provided by God’s grace. This reflection can lead to a greater sense of gratitude and awareness of the abundance that surrounds us.

Furthermore, the repetition of The Lord’s Prayer can serve as a mantra during meditation, helping to center and focus the mind. As each word is repeated, the rhythm and cadence create a soothing and calming effect, allowing individuals to enter into a state of contemplation and connect with the divine presence within. In this state of deep introspection, one can experience a profound sense of peace and unity with the universe.

In conclusion, The Lord’s Prayer holds immense significance both in the context of Christianity and beyond. Its theological interpretations, cross-cultural influence, and enduring relevance all contribute to its enduring impact. Understanding the structure and language of this prayer allows believers to engage with its profound message, while incorporating it into daily life and personal spirituality nurtures a deeper connection with God. As we continue to explore and embrace The Lord’s Prayer, its wisdom and guidance will continue to shape and enrich our spiritual journeys.

The Lord’s Prayer in Modern Times

In contemporary worship settings, The Lord’s Prayer continues to hold a significant place. It is often recited collectively, serving as a unifying expression of faith and a reminder of the central teachings of Christianity. The prayer’s familiarity provides comfort and a sense of continuity in the ever-changing landscape of modern worship.

Moreover, The Lord’s Prayer can also be set to music, allowing worshippers to engage with its profound message in a melodic and memorable manner. This musical adaptation enhances the prayer’s emotional impact, making it an integral part of worship experiences across different Christian denominations.

Furthermore, the power of The Lord’s Prayer lies not only in its words but also in its symbolism. Each line of the prayer carries deep meaning and serves as a guide for believers in their daily lives. The prayer’s emphasis on forgiveness, humility, and trust in God resonates with individuals seeking spiritual guidance and solace in the face of life’s challenges.

The Use of Language in The Lord’s Prayer

The language used in The Lord’s Prayer plays a crucial role in its impact and resonance. The prayer employs simple and concise wording, which enhances its accessibility to people of all ages and intellectual capacities.

By using straightforward language, The Lord’s Prayer becomes accessible to individuals from all walks of life.

It does not require theological expertise or extensive knowledge to understand and engage with its message. This simplicity allows believers of all ages and educational backgrounds to connect with the prayer on a deep and personal level.

The power of The Lord’s Prayer lies in its ability to convey profound theological truths in a concise and relatable manner.

Each line carries a wealth of meaning, encapsulating essential aspects of the Christian faith. This brevity allows the prayer to be easily memorized and recited, making it a powerful tool for personal devotion and communal worship.

The use of inclusive pronouns like “Our Father” and phrases such as “give us this day our daily bread” creates a sense of communal unity among believers. It reminds individuals that they are part of a larger spiritual family and encourages community engagement and support.

The use of inclusive language in The Lord’s Prayer emphasizes the collective nature of the Christian faith. It reminds believers that they are not alone in their journey but are part of a larger community of believers. This communal aspect fosters a sense of belonging, support, and accountability, as individuals come together to pray and live out their faith.

Furthermore, the universal themes presented in The Lord’s Prayer allow it to transcend language barriers and cultural differences. This prayer has been translated into countless languages, enabling individuals from diverse backgrounds to connect with the message it conveys.

The universality of The Lord’s Prayer speaks to the core values and aspirations shared by believers around the world. Regardless of language or cultural context, the prayer’s themes of reverence, surrender, forgiveness, and dependence on God resonate deeply with individuals seeking spiritual connection and guidance.

The Lord’s Prayer in Popular Culture

Beyond religious settings, The Lord’s Prayer has made its way into popular culture. It has been referenced in literature, music, and even movies. Its inclusion in various artistic mediums speaks to its enduring presence and timeless wisdom.

For instance, the prayer features prominently in T.S. Eliot’s famous poem “The Waste Land,” where the line “Lead us not into temptation” is repeated with haunting effect. This reference highlights the prayer’s emotional depth and the relevance it holds even in secular contexts.

Similarly, musicians from different genres have incorporated The Lord’s Prayer into their songs, infusing spirituality into their art. These adaptations bring The Lord’s Prayer to a wider audience and demonstrate its universal appeal beyond religious boundaries.

Moreover, The Lord’s Prayer’s influence extends to the realm of cinema. In several movies, characters recite the prayer during pivotal moments, emphasizing its significance and the moral values it represents. This inclusion not only adds depth to the storytelling but also underscores the prayer’s timeless relevance in navigating the complexities of human existence.

Furthermore, The Lord’s Prayer’s impact on literature cannot be overstated. Countless authors have drawn inspiration from its profound message, incorporating its themes of love, forgiveness, and divine guidance into their works. By referencing The Lord’s Prayer, these writers invite readers to reflect on the deeper meaning of life and the importance of spiritual connection.

In conclusion, The Lord’s Prayer continues to be a powerful and influential aspect of modern society. Whether in worship settings, popular culture, or artistic expressions, its enduring presence speaks to its universal appeal and the timeless wisdom it imparts. As individuals navigate the complexities of the contemporary world, The Lord’s Prayer serves as a guiding light, offering solace, unity, and a reminder of the fundamental teachings of Christianity.

The Lord’s Prayer and Personal Spirituality

The Lord’s Prayer serves as a guiding framework for personal spirituality, providing a pattern for believers to approach God in prayer. By incorporating this prayer into daily life, individuals can deepen their connection with God and cultivate a consistent prayer practice.

Reciting The Lord’s Prayer in the morning can set a positive tone for the day, reminding individuals to seek God’s will and rely on His provision. As the sun rises and the world awakens, the words of this sacred prayer can serve as a gentle reminder to align one’s heart and mind with the divine purpose.

Similarly, reflecting on the prayer’s petitions before sleep can bring solace and peace, allowing one to release worries and surrender to God’s care. In the stillness of the night, when the world is quiet and the stars twinkle above, the words of The Lord’s Prayer can provide comfort and reassurance, guiding individuals into a restful slumber.

Additionally, The Lord’s Prayer can be used as a model for intercessory prayer, providing a structure to pray for the needs of others. This practice encourages empathy and fosters a sense of responsibility towards one’s community, emphasizing the importance of selflessness and compassion.

Conclusion: Living a Life Anchored in the Lord’s Prayer KJV

The Lord’s Prayer KJV is a timeless guide that offers wisdom for every aspect of life. Whether in times of need, moments of joy, daily routines, or communal worship, this prayer provides a foundation for a deep and meaningful relationship with God. By embracing the Lord’s Prayer KJV in our daily lives, we open ourselves to a journey of spiritual growth, grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

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The Lord's Prayer Meaning (Explained Verse by Verse)

by Ryan Hart | Updated on December 10, 2019 | Post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

In the book of Mattew, Jesus used the Lord’s Prayer as a simple example of how to pray to God.

However, the old English phrases used in the King James Version (KJV) of the prayer can be difficult to understand.

Afterall, we no longer use some of the words in the KJV translation such as “art,” “thy”, and “thine.”

So what does the Lord’s Prayer mean verse by verse?

That’s what I set out to learn and was surprised by what I discovered. I’ve included some of my own commentary on the Lord’s Prayer as well.

Read Next: How a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Prayer Changed My Life

The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13 Version (KJV)

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Related: Our Father Which Art in Heaven Prayer

What Does the Lord's Prayer Mean (Verse by Verse)?

Here is my interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father which art in heaven

The Lord’s prayer begins with “Our Father” because we are all children of God. We pray for His mercy or forgiveness on all of us, not just for ourselves.

The prayer continues with “which art in heaven.” In Old English, “art” means to be or to exist. This is a reminder that we pray to a God that lives in Heaven, and we do not pray to objects on Earth.

Hallowed be thy name.

In simple terms, “hallowed be thy name” means we respect God and are loyal to Him only. This phrase is like our pledge of allegiance to God.

I will admit that in my high school social studies classes I did not enjoy reading Shakespeare. No matter how many times I read his plays or poems, I just couldn’t understand all of the Old English words he used.

However, when I started to break down his writing, word-by-word, it became easier to read.

The same can be done with the Lord’s Prayer. For example:

Hallowed means: holy or respected
Be thy means: your
Name means: what we call you

If we put these words together in simple English, this phrase could be understood as “we respect you.”

Thy kingdom come,

When Jesus prays “thy kingdom come” he is simply saying that God will be in control forever or until the end of time.

Thy means: yours
Kingdom means: an area controlled by a king
Come means: to happen

Putting these words together we might translate this sentence to say that God is currently in charge and always will be.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

To understand what this verse of the Lord’s Prayer means, we must read it very carefully. The verse uses very basic words, but they hold a very important meaning.

Will means: desire or wish
Done means: completed

After analyzing this verse of the Lord’s prayer, it is clear that we are making a promise to God that we will obey his desires or wishes on Earth.

The verse simply says, “your wishes will be completed on Earth, just like they are in Heaven.”

Give us this day our daily bread.

If you read other commentary on the Lord’s Prayer, the verse “give us this day our daily bread” is often interpreted in many different ways.

In Exodus 16:4 God tells Moses that each morning bread will rain down from heaven to feed the children of Israel who are hungry. They are to only collect as much bread as they need for that day and keep none of it for the next day. This is the daily bread Jesus is referring to.

I believe the real meaning of this verse is that we must always rely on God to provide for us. As we grow spiritually, we do not become independent and no longer need God to provide for us. As we grow closer to God we actually need him more than ever.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

The King James Version of the Lord’s Prayer asks God to forgive our “debts,” as we forgive our “debtors” (the people that owe us something).

When we think of the word debt today, the first thing that probably comes to mind is a loan or borrowing money.

However, the verse is not referring to financial debts. Instead it symbolizes righteous or moral debts. More simply put, Jesus is referring to our past sins.

In the Lord’s prayer we are asking God to forgive our sins after we forgive the sins of others.

Remember, we must first forgive others for their sins or mistakes. Then, we can ask God to forgive our sins. Not the other way around.

And lead us not into temptation,

This verse of the Lord’s Prayer asks God not lead us to do something wrong or into temptation. We need God’s help because we are often tricked by the devil into making the wrong choices in life.

We are asking God to help us avoid making more bad decisions.

But deliver us from evil:

The word “deliver” in this verse does not mean what it seems.

We are not asking God to deliver us like a pizza from point A to point B. God is not our Uber driver.

Instead, we are asking God to rescue us and set us free from sin and evil in our lives.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The final verse of the Lord’s Prayer is our acknowledgement of God’s power.

Thine means: something that belongs to you
Kingdom means: an area controlled by a king (heaven and earth)
Power means: ability to act
Glory means: to give respect or praise

By saying this line of the prayer we are telling God that we will not forget that everything belongs to Him. He is in control of Heaven and Earth, He has the power to have mercy on us or punish us, and He deserves all of the praise or recognition.

The Lord’s Prayer Summary (Plain English)

Now that we have uncovered the meaning of each verse of the Lord’s Prayer, it’s much easier to understand, right?

Based on my research, this is how I would breakdown the Lord’s Prayer in plain English:

Lord, we are loyal to you in heaven. You are in charge and we will do exactly what you say. Thank you for what you give us each day. I will forgive others for their mistakes. Please forgive my mistakes. Help me avoid making bad decisions. Set me free from my sins. You have all the power and deserve all the praise. Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

So now that you know what the Lord’s Prayer means verse by verse, I’d like to hear from you.

What do you think the Lord’s Prayer means?

How would you breakdown the Lord’s Prayer verse by verse?

Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.

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Understanding the Lord’s Prayer Line By Line – Our Father

The our father, or lord's prayer, explained.

The question of, “How do we pray?” is one that is often asked and one that was posed thousands of years ago by the disciples. In Luke 11:1-4, when one of Jesus’ disciples ask Him, “Lord, teach us to pray,” Jesus replied by giving us the prayer that we recite countless times throughout our lifetime — the Our Father, also known as The Lord’s Prayer.

What is the Lord's Prayer?

Jesus instructed His disciples and us to:

"Pray, then, in this way"

1. Our Father, Who art in heaven

2. hallowed be thy name, 3. thy kingdom come, 4. thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

5. Give us this day our daily bread

6. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us

7. And lead us not into temptation

8. But deliver us from evil.

Reflecting on the Meaning of the Lord's Prayer

This short prayer takes a mere 15-20 seconds to say, yet is filled with incredible meaning. If ever there was a prayer that summarized our faith and what’s expressed in the Gospels, the Our Father is it. On his reflection on this prayer, St. Cyprian of Carthage, a third century bishop wrote, “My dear friends, the Lord’s Prayer contains many great mysteries of our faith. In these few words there is great spiritual strength, for this summary of divine teaching contains all of our prayers and petitions.”

If you’ve been a practicing Catholic since you were little, you’ve been reciting this prayer more times than you can count. Like anything we do repeatedly, saying this prayer silently or out loud becomes second nature.

It’s important to remind ourselves to stop and reflect on the words we are saying. With the help of religious scholars and clergy, let’s take a closer look at what each line means, and how we can apply this prayer to our lives. Because as Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “The meaning of the Our Father goes much further than the mere provision of a prayer text. It aims to form our being, to train us in the inner attitude of Jesus.”

If ever there was a prayer that summarized our faith and what’s expressed in the Gospels, the Our Father is it.

The meaning of the Our Father goes much further than the mere provision of a prayer text. It aims to form our being, to train us in the inner attitude of Jesus .

We start this prayer by professing our core religious belief that God is our heavenly Father—the one who is all knowing and all powerful. Notice that Jesus didn’t instruct us to say, “My Father” but stressed “Our Father.” Scripture scholar John Meier explains that in God’s kingdom, we don’t live as isolated individuals but “we experience God’s fatherhood as members of the church, the family of Jesus the Son.” This reminds us that we recognize all those around us as children of God and treat them accordingly.

Hallowed is another word for holy or sanctified. When we say “hallowed be Thy name,” we are not only telling God “I recognize that you are holy,” but more importantly, we’re asking that His name be recognized by everyone throughout the world as being the ultimate holy power—that one day (sooner rather than later) all will know Him to be righteous, powerful, and everyone’s one true God.

This petition has a two-fold meaning. First, we are asking that God’s kingdom (where there’s only goodness, honesty, and love for one another) surround us in our everyday life. Secondly, we are praying for the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise that He will return at the end of time and grant us eternal life.

We pray these words asking for God’s grace to move us to do His will throughout our life. That means doing all the things that will please our Father — even the difficult things, whether it’s something big such as moving an elderly parent into our home or volunteering our time once a week at the soup kitchen, to something as small as giving up a parking space or not calling a best friend to spread some juicy gossip. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says, “In committing ourselves to [Christ], we can become one spirit with him, and thereby accomplish his will…”

5. Give us the day our daily bread

Here we’re recognizing that all things we need come to us from God. We’re asking that God continue to give us not only the food we need for nourishment, but also the Bread of Life , the Eucharist.

This is a tough one. It may be easy for us to ask God to forgive us our “trespasses” or sins, but God in his infinite wisdom teaches us that in order for Him to forgive our wrongdoings, we must first forgive those who’ve hurt us. God isn’t being difficult, rather He’s teaching us that when there is bitterness and anger in our hearts, there’s no room for His love to fill our hearts. How can we ask God to be merciful and forgive our sins, if we’re holding a grudge or refuse to forgive someone who’s wronged us? Forgiving someone is often easier said than done. Only God can give us the strength to do it through prayer.

7. And lead us not into temptation,

Temptation and sin go hand in hand. When we come face to face with temptation, it can sometimes be difficult to resist. That’s why we need our Father to set up the road blocks and lead us far from the path of temptation.

Evil is an unfortunate reality in our world. The devil is always trying to tempt us and makes it his full-time job to look for ways to steer us from the right path and onto the wrong one. The devil has no power over God and when we pray to God for protection against all that is evil, He will shield us — always.

There are many moving prayers that we can say, but when it comes to one prayer that takes the main aspects of our faith and summarizes them in several short lines, the Our Father is the perfect prayer.

You may be interested in these:

Lenten family devotions and prayers, understanding the true meaning of christmas in the catholic faith, st. nicholas: the real santa claus – how can families celebrate st. nicholas feast day, the beginning of “beginning apologetics” – an origin story, understanding the luminous mysteries of the rosary, catholic creed: why do we need a creed, the nicene creed, the apostle’s creed.

Thankyou for the breaking down of the (our father which art in heaven) meaning I now have a more clear understanding of the Lord’s prayer.

Wow im impressed, i thought i knew how to pray until i read this powerful prayer

After reading the Lords prayer and it’s meaning, I feel Brand New, like I’ve been born again. I see things in a whole new light.

This was truly a blessing. Thank you

In God I trust. In the Devil Islam I don’t

I understand the prayers of our Father.Thank You Lord

Our Father,Would never “lead us into temptation,”, if we were not prepared by our faith in Jesus to endure this threat, so we ask not to be challenged.

Thank you for a better understanding of the Lords prayer! May God bless all of his children and bring comfort to all!

I prefer “let us not be led into temptation “

YA, MEIN FUHER, i’LL TALK TO jESUS ABOUT IT. ;;;;;;; bUT SERIOUSLY, YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT. hOWEVER, ASSUMING THIS IS WHAT jESUS SAID, THEN THE BIGGER CHALLENGE IS TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HE MEANT HERE. iT’S ALREADY BOGGLING MY MIND.’ BUT i’M GOING TO TRY. ANTHONY

Thanks, after all these years I finally understand how to find protection from evil and keep it out of my life,and that is to keep saying the Out Father

Thank you. I have a huge mountain to climb. Understanding the meanings of The Lords Prayer and Hail Mary is restoring my faith which I feel has taken a severe blow. Thanks again.

Comment. I have a better understanding about the father’s prayer. Thank you so much.

Why is there a difference in the Lords prayers in same bibles? In one of my bibles it reads “and forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors”

Dear Ms. Brickner, one of the best answers we could find comes from this website http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/most-bible-translations-use-the-word-debts-in-the-lords-prayer-so-why-do-we-say-forgi . As American English speaking Catholics, the prayer is most often phrased and prayed aloud in church with the use of “trespasess” and not “debts”. We opted to use the most commonly used prayer version for our audience.

The Lord is my savior

Thanks for scaring the devil out of my life by giving a deeper meaning of the Lords prayer. I am more empowered! Batlang Mmualefe, Gaborone, Botswana

for thine is the kingdom, the power and glory

The about line was what’s added to the prayer at the end….was taught to recite this about 20 yrs ago….pls correct if required

I was also taught that last line, but I was also taught that after that comes “forever and ever”. Amen

With reference to “the kingdom, the power and the glory,” please refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2760. It will explain why we say it in Mass when associated with the Eucharistic celebration. It goes all the way back to 90 AD, and is always associated with the celebration of the Eucharist.

I have been asking the deacon in the Church I attend to discuss two aspects of our faith which I think most people who attend Mass do not understand. The first thing is explaining the parts of the Mass. What they are & what they mean. Second are the lines in the Our Father which you have done here.The article is very well done. Thank you.

I really needed to read this tonight. Thank you and peace be with you and everyone who reads this. Spread God’s love. It matters.

Based on the above study you are requested to explain the following Bible verses :

1). Galatians 3:26 2). John 1:12 3). Romans 8:14-16 4). 1 John 3:9-10 5). John 8:41-47 6). John 3:16

When you can explain John 6:44-71.

Thank you for the breakdown this not only helps me understand what we pray but read this article inspires. Fabian

Thanks for a job well done. In the lords prayer please what is the meaning of the word ‘Art’

Art is just another ancient way of saying are. Listen to the old scottish bagpipe song about world war 1 and how it tells about burying the soldier “lay me doon in the caul caul grun” . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB2Ad04mukI Aramaic, gallic, anglican, saxon, norman, etc. variations had to influence the writing of the KJ bible. Trespassers/es is substituted for debtors/s in some versions.

Its verygood

Thank you so much. May God bless you and keep you.

“And forgive us our trespasses.”

I have been puzzled by the above line for the past 73 years; but now I believe it would be better and clearer to say: “And forgive us for those we have wronged.”

I believe that Jesus gave us so much in this short prayer, you can find deeper meaning in it the more you contemplate on it. I say it in my car on the way to work every morning. Everything you could need is in this prayer.

This is a very good interpretation.I suggest that it is also translated into Swahili language.

The LORD’S prayer is amazing. The break down explains it just the JESUS wants us to understand the word.

Well said. I really needed this. Now i understand, so I can and will explain to my babies. In God I trust. Amen

I am so glad I found this, everything but the “Thy kingdom come” part is self explanatory for me; but I’ve been wondering about that phrase in the prayer for a long time & now I know, Thank You

The Lord’s prayer has helped me through some difficult nights. With family, friends and work I was suffocating myself. It’s a beautiful and strong prayer. When each verse is explain, life has a better meaning. “Our Father”. AMEN

Thank you. I now have the understanding of what “And lead us not into temptation” truly means. I was confused and questioned why God would tempt us, now I know it’s to protect us.

Comment thanks a lot

This is the most helpful website I have ever found to break down the prayers into simple, modern terms. You have done a great job at making today’s generation understand what the prayers are truly about, and it has made me personally (18 years old) feel like I can finally get something out of my prayers, understanding what the words mean more deeply. Thank you.

I have noticed that there is no mention of praying about God curing those who are suffering, or sick etc. This is a very common prayer in all churches.. Will God change His mind and cure these people because we asked or will his “will be done” ?

WE SHOULD ALWAYS TALK TO GOD IN THANKSGIVING AND IF WE PRAY FOR OOURSELVES OR OTHERS,I SAY IF IT IS GOD’S WILL. GODS PLAN IS BEST, NOT WHAT WE THINK THAT WE OR ANOTHER PERSON NEED. DIFFICULT!

I should confess, at the age of 28, its only today i made time to understand though the Lord’s prayer. Thank you for the explanation. Be blessed.

This is way i explain why and how to pray the Lord’s Prayer to others and especially when i give Pre Cana Seminars.

Thanks for teaching me to pray the Lord’s prayer with much more BOLDNESS and SECURITY!

I still struggle with, “And lead us not into temptation”. Why would a loving God lead us to temptation? The explanation above seems insufficient. If the explanation provided is correct, why wouldn’t the prayer say (something like), “And lead us far from the path of temptation” or “And give us the strength to resist temptation”?

Hi Gaz! Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: – James Chap 1 vs 13. God will never lead you into any kind of temptation to sin, that’s what Satan does to us. Also in 1 Corinthians 10:13 we have the promise of escape by being empowered by grace to say “NO” to temptation and sin: No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it….. Satan is referred to as the ‘tempter’ and ‘the accuser of the brethren’. God equips us to enter into a kind of spiritual warfare and stand our ground against the enemy (the Devil) – the full armour of God as is defined in Ephesians 6: 13. Grace and Peace, mate!

I have a better understanding now. But, need clarification on, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven. Where are our souls after we die while waiting for Jesus to come again? Do we go to heaven before final judgement or are we laying in nothingness until called. Please explain.

Roms verses 10: 9, 10 “that is you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved”. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness (being right with God) and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Which means, that when you die your spirit (the real you), being made righteous by the blood of Christ goes straight to Heaven. Yeah! And Ephesians: ch 2 vs 8: “For by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourself; it is the ‘gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast’. No soul sleep nor purgatory (won’t find that in the new testament). Isn’t that great news!

As they used to say, I was born into Christianity and I have remained a Christian for 60 years. I believe the scriptures when it warns us that there will be a great turning away. Not much that is happening today surprises me, but I must say I was a little concerned to read that the current Pope wants to tweak the Lord’s Prayer. Seems he does not like the verse: “And Lead Us Not Into Temptation…” Is nothing sacred?

Translations in other languages of the biblical Greek have the meaning “let us not be led into temptation”. The Pope, I presume, wishes that interpretation to be clear in all languages.

The current Pope needs to be replaced.

Thank You for this piece of mind of understanding spiritually this prayer

Very well written. Thank you I plan to share your outline with my 7th grade religious students as we are making prayer sticks based on the Lord’s Prayer. I think this will make the prayer more meaningful for them. Then we will visit the second grade class and use the prayer sticks and explain the prayer to the younger students. Your help has been invaluable. Many blessings

how can i live my life without regret?

HI HOLLY, TELL A TRUSTED FRIEND OR RELATIVE ABOUT YOUR REGRETS, AND TELL GOD. TRY TO PRACTICE A LIFE OF SELFLESSNESSSERVICE TO OTHERS WHEN POSSIBLE. YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE!

thanks be God,I have now understood this paryer

I am 59 years old and have always wondered what all I was praying when I would recite this beautiful prayer. Now I understand! Thank you!

oh god our lord you have the power and the glory for ever and ever GOD BLESS

Glory be to God in Heaven I now understand fully the meaning of this prayer.

I REPEAT THIS PRAYER EACH NIGHT OF MY LIFE. IT IS SO POWERFUL AND IT MAKES ME FILLED WITH HIS LOVE AND GUIDEANCE EACH AND EVERYDAY. PRAISE YOU ALMIGHTY GOD. KATHY

wow, take off caps lock

nice comment

nice “nice comment”

Nice ‘nice nice comment’

Thank you for having this prayer explained. My young son ask #6 and the first words out of my mouth was Thats a Tough one! Funny, that’s how #6 starts.

I say this prayer every night just before I go to sleep. I used to simply say it from memory and suddenly, I actually wondered what exactly does each paragraph mean? Thank you for explaining it in easy-to-understand words!

Thank you for sharing your perspectives on our Lord’s Prayer today. My faith heritage includes my Father’s Catholic experiences. I’m grateful to Jesus for his gift of love so that we may be merciful as he is mercy.

I am confused by line 7. If we have free will how can God either do or do not “lead us not into temptation” it seems like a major conflict to me. Ideas?

yes you have a free will, and yes we do make mistakes al the time.that said by praying to our lord we are asking him honestly from our soal to lead us not into temptation. “god will do it for you” keep asking god and you will see results.your friend in “god”. jay on this earth now.

Great information. Love reading about Gods word. I have problems praying sometimes, the meaning of the Lords prayer helps, is there any other prayer that can help putting the words together?

No I do like for it to be shared,with some one else, my personal questions. Thanks

soup kitchen

THANK YOU….

When I say this prayer, I do it line by line. I pause in between lines and say what I think it means. This explanation helps further help with my understanding.

The Lord’s Prayer is my communion with God. I say it 3 times a day and more if I’m troubled. When I’ve had surgery it is my comfort. I have one major problem Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those. I am finding it very difficult to forgive my son who has hurt me terribly. Sending me hate mail via social media, on my birthday last year. Not all that was said is true. I want to forgive but I am afraid of him being in my life again. It hurts so very much. Father forgive me.

I feel exactly as you. It is very difficult for me to forgive my son although I pray for him often. Reading the explanation in The Our Father” How can I ask for forgiveness when I am not willing to forgive my son. That shook me to my core. I will continue to pray The Our Father and spend time meditating on “ and forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. I must take the action to forgive him. With God leading me how can I failk

i understand the prayer now thanks god

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Small volume has valuable insights on Our Father prayer

"The Our Father: A New Reading" by Gerhard Lohfink. Liturgical Press (Collegeville, Minnesota, 2019). 115 pp., $17.95. Many books and essays have been written on the Our Father over the years. One of the most important essays prior to the Second Vatican Council was written early in his career by Father Raymond E. Brown (1928-1998). Titled "The Pater Noster As an Eschatological Prayer," it appeared in many reprintings of Father Brown's "New Testament Essays." The most recent book on the Our Father is this one by German New Testament scholar Father Gerhard Lohfink. Translated into accessible, nonacademic American English by Linda M. Maloney, this is a small volume that deserves attention. Father Lohfink ponders the Our Father in 10 brief chapters, each with a unique perspective. The final, 11th chapter presents a paraphrase of and commentary on the Our Father based on the insights highlighted in the earlier chapters. Among the valuable insights in this book: -- The Our Father "is first of all, and primarily, a prayer for Jesus' disciples." -- "In the Our Father, Jesus summarized all that he wanted and hoped for." The author explains that, from beginning to end, the Our Father is a prayer of petition; absent from the prayer are any elements of, for example, praise or thanksgiving. This leaves high and dry scholars and others who question whether petitionary prayer is thoroughly Christian.

This small volume makes clear that the doxology added to the Our Father by Protestant traditions ("For thine is the kingdom, and the power ..." etc.) came from neither Jesus nor Scripture. It first appeared in an early (c. A.D. 300) nonscriptural Christian document, "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles," commonly shortened to the Greek term for "teaching," i.e. "the Didache." The current form of the Mass includes a contemporary translation of this doxology but places a short prayer, recited by the priest, between the Our Father and the doxology. The Our Father begins, Father Lohfink notes, by addressing God using the Aramaic "abba," usually translated "Father." In recent decades, some have suggested that a better translation would be "Papa" or "Daddy," but the author rejects this idea. He also rejects feminist suggestions that abba should be translated along the lines of "Our Father /Our Mother." In the metaphorical world, "which is fundamental to the Bible," Father Lohfink insists, "extending deeply into the New Testament . ... God must be referred to in masculine terms, no matter how much that is purely metaphorical and no matter how profoundly true it is that God's motherly features may not be omitted." Particularly important is Father Lohfink's discussion of how the Greek phrase behind "Lead us not into temptation" should be translated. This petition, he declares, "can only mean: 'Lead us not into a situation of testing beyond our strength.'" As loaded with insights as Father Lohfink's "New Reading" of the Our Father is, there is at least one noteworthy oversight -- namely, he fails to even mention the eucharistic overtones of the line, "give us this day our daily bread." Father Brown's essay discussed this in detail, and it seems a significant misstep for Father Lohfink to disregard it entirely. All the same, "The Our Father: A New Reading" is an important book with much to inspire reflection and discussion. - - - Finley is the author of more than 30 books of popular Catholic theology, including a best-seller, "The Rosary Handbook" (Word Among Us Press) and "A Man's Guide to Being Catholic" (Wipf & Stock).

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The Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer Line-by-Line

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This article is based on teaching by Pastor Colin Smith, Senior Pastor of The Orchard from his series Six Things to Ask of God . Follow his teaching on YouTube , the Open the Bible app or by searching “Open the Bible” in your favorite podcast app.

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to pray, Jesus responded with the words of the Lord’s Prayer (as found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4). In the Lord’s Prayer, we have the Son of God Himself teaching us to pray, and who would not want to pull up a chair, sit down, and hang on to His every word?

What follows is a petition-by-petition breakdown of the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer. May God increase your faith in Him and ability to pray as you meditate on the life-giving words of Jesus.

The Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer, Line by Line

Full Text of the Lord’s Prayer

“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.” Matthew 6:9–13 ESV

Overview Sermon by Pastor Colin Smith: Let the Lord’s Prayer Change You

Article: How the Lord’s Prayer Can Help You Overcome Your Prayer Struggles by Kevin Halloran

Our Father in Heaven

All six petitions in the Lord’s Prayer are addressed to “our Father in heaven.” This is a prayer for God’s children. These are the prayers of those who’ve been reconciled to God. We cannot naturally pray this way. By nature, we are alienated from God. We are more concerned about our names than God’s name. And so, left to ourselves, if we prayed at all, we would start with ourselves and our own needs.

But Jesus came to bring us into an entirely new and different relationship with God the Father. God is His Father, and through faith in Him, we come to know God as our Father too. Jesus brings you into a new relationship with God in which you love Him, trust Him, worship Him, serve Him, and obey Him. And in the love of this perfect Father, you will find new peace, new strength, new hope, and new joy.

Here is the promise: “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). If you want to know God as your Father, if you want to pray as Jesus taught us to pray, here is where you begin: You must receive Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life, and you do this by believing in His name. Everything in the Lord’s Prayer flows from that relationship.

Article: How Is God Our Father?

Hallowed be your name

Notice that “heaven” frames the first three petitions: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). In other words: Hallowed be your name (on earth as in heaven). Your kingdom come (on earth as in heaven). Your will be done (on earth as in heaven).

Think about the scene in heaven as angels worship, and God’s name is honored: “Day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’” (Revelation 4:8). That’s the scene in heaven, but what about the scene on earth? “Continually all the day my name is despised” (Isaiah 52:5).

The scene on earth could not be more different than the scene in heaven. In heaven, God’s name is honored as the angels worship without ceasing. On earth, God’s name is despised, and blasphemed all day long. And it is into this chasm that we pray the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer: “Hallowed be your name!” Let your name be worshiped, exalted, honored, and adored as it is in heaven.

In praying this prayer, we are asking God to move and act in the world in such a way that people will worship and treasure Him above all else. “Father, please bring people to love, trust, worship, and adore You. Make that true of us. Cause this to be true for me.” God’s answer to a world that despises His name is a people who know and love His name.

Sermon: God’s Name by Pastor Colin Smith (watch below)
Article: What Does It Mean to Pray “Hallowed Be Your Name”?
A Prayer to Honor God’s Name

Your kingdom come

God is a great and glorious king. There are other powers, other authorities, other kings, and other gods who do not recognize His rule, but God is sovereign over them: “For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods” (Psalm 95:3). When we pray, “Your kingdom come” the first thing we are asking of God is that our lives will be more fully submitted to His reign and His rule.

Jesus says that His kingdom is like “the smallest of all seeds” (Mark 4:31). It may be small, but because it is living, it will grow. What God is doing in you will spread through you into the lives of others. The second thing we pray for when we pray, “Your kingdom come” is for loved ones who do not yet know Jesus. This is also where we pray for the advance of the gospel in the world.

When Jesus teaches us to pray, “Your kingdom come,” not only is He telling us to pray that the kingdom will begin in us, and that it will grow in the world, but that God’s kingdom in all its fullness will come. The coming of the kingdom requires the coming of the King. When the King comes, He will defeat death, He will judge the world, and He will bring His people safely into His presence to live under the blessing of His rule forever.

Sermon: God’s Kingdom by Pastor Colin Smith (watch below)
A Prayer for God’s Kingdom to Come

Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven

God has a will that is secret, a will that can be discerned, and a will that has been revealed to us in the Bible. So, when we pray, “Your will be done,” we are asking for faith in what God has kept secret, wisdom in what God has called us to discern, and obedience in what He has revealed.

Our Lord gives us a model of how His will is to be done: “as it is in heaven.” Who does God’s will in heaven? The angels, and if they are the model of doing God’s will in heaven, what does their obedience look like? Angels do God’s will fully, gladly, and immediately.

So, when we pray this prayer, we are asking God: “Lord, help me to embrace the commands that You have called me to obey. Help me to submit to the burden You have called me to carry.” When you pray, “Your will be done,” you rule out what God forbids, and you rule in what God commands.

Sermon: God’s Will by Pastor Colin Smith (watch below)
Article: What Does It Mean to Pray ‘Your Will Be Done’?
A Prayer for Doing God’s Will

Give us this day our daily bread

When we ask God to give us our “daily bread,” we are, first of all, confessing our dependence on Him. We are also recognizing that God does not owe us, and that all we have is freely given from His hand.

Notice, secondly, that we are asking God for bread, not filet mignon. “Bread” is used in the Bible as a general term for the basic necessities of life, so “bread” would include our food, health, shelter, and clothing. It also includes our work, our safety, and the stability of our country. All of these are good gifts from the hand of our Father in heaven. So, in this prayer, we are asking God to give us all that we need to sustain a life that is committed to honoring His name, advancing His kingdom, and doing His will. And when we ask for and receive these things, we will naturally grow in gratitude to God.

Thirdly, notice the plural. It’s not, “Give me my daily bread,” it’s, “Give us our daily bread.” This prayer not only helps us to acknowledge our dependence on God and helps us to grow in gratitude, but it will deepen our compassion for others whose needs are greater than our own. This is where we pray for the needs of a hungry world, and where we ask God to bring to our minds the needs of others that we can help.

Finally, the word “daily” reminds us that God has a track record of faithfulness. He has been providing for billions of people across every continent in the world, and He has been doing this on a daily basis for thousands of years. When you ask God to provide for your needs, you are not asking for something strange or unusual. This is what God does for His people. He does it daily and you can trust Him to do it for you.

Sermon: God’s Provision by Pastor Colin Smith (watch below)
A Prayer for Our Daily Bread

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors

Jesus teaches us to pray, “Forgive us our debts.” Now, that is a really big ask. Imagine going to someone and asking them to “forgive” your million dollar debt. But Jesus invites us to come and make an even bigger ask of God.

When we ask God to forgive our debts, we are confessing not only that we have failed to pay, but that we cannot pay. We don’t say, “Father, I will make it up to You by being a good father, a good student, or a good Christian.”

Why would a Christian need to pray this prayer? When we come to Jesus in faith and repentance, we are justified fully, completely, and forever. God drops all charges against us. If God has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west, why would we need to pray, “Forgive us our debts” this week? The point of this prayer is not that condemnation should be removed, but that fellowship with God should be restored.

Notice, it is not, “Forgive me my debts,” it is, “Forgive us our debts.” Praying this prayer means that you want God to forgive not only the debts you owe, but also the debts others owe, and this includes the debts that others owe to you. How can I ask God to forgive me for my sins if I am not ready to forgive others for their sins?

Sermon: God’s Forgiveness by Pastor Colin Smith (watch below)
Article: Six Strides Toward Forgiveness
A Prayer for Forgiveness

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

Jesus used similar words in the garden of Gethsemane when He said to the disciples: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

Everyone is tempted. Notice, Jesus is not saying, “Watch and pray so that you will not be tempted.” He is saying, “Watch and pray so that you may not enter into temptation.” In other words, He is saying, “Father, do not let me get to the place where temptation overwhelms me. Guard me from that by helping me to watch and to pray.”

When we pray, “Deliver us from evil,” we are not saying, “We can do it.” We are not even saying, “We can do it, we just need a little help.” When we pray, “Deliver us from evil,” we are saying, “This power of evil is too great for us, but it is not too great for You.” When we see war, injustice, famine, and disease, Jesus tells us to pray, “Deliver us from evil.” Father, come and do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

Sermons: God’s Deliverance by Pastor Colin Smith (watch below)
Article: 4 Ways God Answers Our Prayers for Deliverance
A Prayer for Deliverance from Temptation and Evil

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CATHOLIC FAITH, HOPE, and HEALING for YOUR DAILY LIFE

The “Our Father” Prayer

Part 1: Deeper Meanings

The “our father” prayer part 2: do i really mean what i pray.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Praying the Our Father and living it will lead us toward saintliness. The Our Father contains everything: God, ourselves, our neighbors….”

Examine how well you live what you pray as you meditate on the following:

I cannot say OUR if I keep my faith only to myself and never share it with others.

I cannot say FATHER if I do not trust in His loving and complete concern for me, forgetting that He always answers prayers how and when He knows is best.

I cannot say WHO ART IN HEAVEN if I am so attached to the ways of this world that I neglect to seek God first in everything.

I cannot say HALLOWED BE THY NAME if I am unwilling to let His holiness penetrate my life and help me grow in my own holiness.

I cannot say THY KINGDOM COME if I am not using my life to bring His love into the world.

I cannot say THY WILL BE DONE if I live by my own ideas of morality or choose to follow the world’s standards.

I cannot say ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN if I am not devoting my life to serving Him here on earth.

I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD if I am not willing to be generous with whatever God gives me.

I cannot say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES if I don’t want to put forth enough effort to change.

I cannot say AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US if I still hold a grudge, if I’m still angry, or if I still insist that other people change.

I cannot say LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION if I deliberately or knowingly place myself in a position to be tempted.

I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL if I’m not actively fighting against evil through deeds of love and service for everyone in my life, especially those who cause problems.

Find more Prayers for Everyday life >>

For more faith-builders, visit the good news ministries home page >>, also see terry modica’s books >>.

The “Our Father” Prayer Do I Really Mean What I Pray?

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215 short inspirational messages that bring God’s radical love into the context of romantic relationships.

Two private reflection questions at the end of each message will help you apply the messages to your everyday life and challenges. This is followed by ideas for discussing the topic as a couple to further integrate it into your relationship.

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Each day of this novena contains a brief story about various apparitions of St. Joseph, with special prayers.

With this consecration, we seal ourselves as his children. We place into his fatherly protection ourselves, our families, our jobs and ministries, and the Church. We also consecrate to his fatherhood those who are not following Christ, especially our own family members, because Joseph’s desire in heaven is that all of his children love his son, Jesus, and follow him to everlasting life.

A suspense-filled Christian novel about the saving power of love. Patti Regall is a young mother trying to escape from a lifetime of abuse and the devil-worshiping coven that wants to use her little boys, Victor and Vincent, to uncover the identity of the Anti-Christ. When she finds an opportunity to escape, she has to leave Victor behind.

Patti fights her own demons while desperately trying to rescue Victor from the coven. Tobias, a Christian man, comes to her aid. This novel will affirm your faith in Christ’s victorious power.

Download a collection of Catholic prayers and scriptures for today’s spiritual warfare battles and for everyday protection.

This printable handbook includes the Prayer for the Presence of Christ, Prayer for the Power of the Holy Spirit, Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, Prayer to Wear the Armor of God, Saint Patrick’s Breastplate, Prayer to Conquer Evil, Prayer to Break Curses, Prayer for Release from Ancestral Curses, Prayer of Authority to Conquer Demons, Consecration to Mary Defeater of Satan, Consecrate Your Marriage to Mary Ark of the Covenant, Zechariah’s Canticle as a Victory Prayer, and Praying the “Our Father” for Victory Over Evil. Plus more than 200 scriptures!

Holy Living Bible Study

This easy-to-understand study guide explains in ordinary language how to understand this very important Church document and apply it to our every-day lives and today’s world. It's life-changing and soul-healing!

The book explores: • developing a personal relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist • the Eucharist as the “source and summit of the Christian life” • what Catholics believe and do not believe about the Eucharist • why only Catholic priests can consecrate the Communion elements • the role of the whole community in Holy Communion

How do you know what God’s will is for your life? Do you know your calling? God has gifted you and has a desire to use your experiences and skills to help make the world a better place and to advance the purposes of his kingdom. Whether it’s in ministry or a secular job, God has a divine plan for you!

This book is a compilation of 20 thought-provoking reflections from Terry's daily Good News Reflections . Use it for meditation, spiritual guidance, and inspiration.

As a bonus, it includes 3 self-assessment tests to help readers figure out which particular ministries God has gifted them to do.

Path to Healing in Difficult Relationships

Are you suffering from wounds inflicted by others? Do you feel weary from a difficult relationship? Are you wondering if you should keep trying to persevere and recover the happiness you used to have? Does God seem to be ignoring you as you pray desperately for the healing of relationships?

Jesus is reaching out to you in this collection of 20 messages taken from Terry's Good News Reflections . Reading this book is like taking time out on retreat for inner restoration.

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How to Pray the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father Prayer)

Abby Fredrickson

Let us not forget the great prayer: the one that Jesus taught us, and which is the prayer with which he prayed to the Father. This prayer prepares us for Communion. Pope Francis, General Audience — March 14, 2018

The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the ‘Our Father,’ comes from the Gospel of Matthew, with a shorter version in the Gospel of Luke. It is one of — if not the — most popular Christian prayers.

Table of Contents

Biblical roots

Matthew’s context
Luke’s context
Scriptural accounts

When do we pray the Our Father?

How to Pray the Our Father Prayer
Related prayers

What is the Our Father Prayer?

The Lord’s Prayer is comprised of seven lines and was likely originally written in Aramaic . The seven lines of the prayer are often called the Seven Petitions. St. Thomas Aquinas writes that not only do these petitions contain everything we could ever desire, but they are also written in the sequence in which they should be desired. The first three draw us toward the glory of the Father, giving Him praise. These last four ask for His help and commend our sins and weaknesses to His grace.

“Pray then in this way: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Matthew 6:9-13

As noted earlier, we find the Lord’s Prayer in two books of the New Testament: Matthew and Luke. However, the prayer doesn’t appear in the same form or location in the two Gospels . In Matthew, the Lord’s Prayer is embedded in the Sermon on the Mount , when Jesus teaches His followers how to pray with humility.

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:5-8

In the Gospel of Luke, the Lord’s Prayer is Jesus’ response to his disciples’ request: “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). So, Jesus responds with a slightly shorter version of the Lord’s Prayer than the one we find in Matthew’s Gospel. Scholars continue to debate their differences. However, the two contexts show us why we pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Matthew’s Context

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus provides us with a few tenets of how to pray. He encourages us to pray alone, in the quiet, so that we can best speak with and listen to God. Before Matthew introduces the Lord’s Prayer, he tells us something essential: “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8). When we’re at a loss for words in prayer, turn to the Lord’s Prayer with intention. Whether we pray with gratitude or thanksgiving or pray for guidance or forgiveness, God always knows what we need. All we have to do is call on Him!

Luke’s Context

When Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer after the disciples asked him how to pray, it wasn’t just about the words of the prayer itself. Though they hold much meaning (see “How to Pray” below), the Lord’s Prayer also provides us with a template for how to approach and talk with God. We call on Him, glorify Him, surrender to His will, and ask for nourishment, forgiveness, and guidance. Thinking of the Lord’s Prayer as a template reminds us that we can talk with God about anything in prayer.

Why do we pray the Our Father?

“The Our Father contains all possible petitions; we cannot conceive of any prayer not already contained in it. It is to prayer what Christ is to humanity. It is impossible to say it once through, giving the fullest possible attention to each word, without a change, infinitesimal perhaps but real, taking place in the soul.” Simone Weil

The two Scriptural accounts of the Lord’s Prayer from Luke and Matthew demonstrate the power of this traditional prayer for many intentions and petitions. All we need to do is call on Him (Matthew) and approach our conversation with Him intentionally (Luke). This is why we pray the Lord’s Prayer: to talk with God intentionally and to ask Him for our “daily bread.”

We pray the Lord’s Prayer as a community during Mass. We can also say this prayer at all times — to begin or end our time in prayer when we are stressed or grateful, and when we wake up or before we fall asleep .

How to Pray the Our Father Prayer (line by line)

We’ve broken down the meaning of each line of the Lord’s Prayer. In summary, we say this prayer hoping that we may be changed by God each time we pray these words.

As noted above, the first three petitions draw us toward the glory of the Father, giving Him praise and naming our relationship to Him.

The love God has for us is the unconditional, intimate, all-encompassing love of a father. In naming who He is, God shows who we are. If God is our Father, then we are His sons and daughters. We are then invited to come to God with child-like trust and to love as He loves. Jesus taught us to use the word “our.” The Good News is for us, for everyone. In the rest of the prayer, we use the word “us.” This prayer excludes no one. God’s love and Fatherhood are for us all.

Who art in heaven

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, heaven “does not mean a place, but a way of being; it does not mean that God is distant but majestic.” Continuing, we read, “Our Father is not ‘elsewhere’: He transcends everything we can conceive of his holiness.”

We are all moving towards our final home in our Father’s house — not a place in the way we often imagine, but a state of grace, joy, and true peace. It is there that God resides and where He invites us to be with Him both now and for eternity.

Hallowed be thy name

Throughout Scripture, there is an ongoing emphasis on God’s name. For God to give us his name, He shows us that He is not a disconnected being from us. Rather, God is close to us, invested in us, and deeply personal. The word hallow means to revere, honor, respect, to make holy. We have the privilege to know God’s name and to call on Him. We have the freedom to disrespect God’s name, bring shame to it, or glorify it and make it hallowed (holy). When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we acknowledge the holiness of God’s name. And we also pray that we might hallow His name through our lives.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Jesus sums up all the commandments in one: love God and love one another as God loves us. This commandment expresses what the will of God is. This sounds simple until we realize how radical love is: love is Jesus crucified, dying for our sins. Love is the basis of the kingdom Jesus taught us about. It is a kingdom where the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

When we pray “thy kingdom come,” we ask Jesus to fulfill his promise that he will return on the Last Day. We also ask God to bring his kingdom here and now so we might reflect it in our own lives. This cultivates our desire to bring a foretaste of heaven to everyone we encounter.

We learn to be open to the will of God and build His kingdom on earth through prayer. Each time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to guide the surrender of our will and place our trust completely in Him. In desiring God’s will above our own, we let go of our control. It is only after our surrender that we become more ourselves than ever. Only then can we love as God does and allow His kingdom to flourish.

Give us this day our daily bread

Now we enter into the second half of the Our Father, in which we petition God for His help.

When God saved the Israelites from slavery, He led them into the desert. And there, every morning in the desert, God sent them manna — flakes that were made into bread. Everyone could eat their fill each day, but the manna would rot if they tried to store it overnight. By teaching us to ask for our daily bread, Jesus calls us to find peace in trusting him to provide for us every single day, just as he did the Israelites. God desires us to be fully present, not looking backward in regret or forward in anxiety, but to love and serve where we are here and now.

Going beyond the bread God gave the Israelites, in John chapter 6, Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” When we ask for our daily bread, we recognize that the Father gives us Jesus in the Eucharist as our truest nourishment. Jesus is the daily bread that we need to feed us, to fill us, and to lead us to eternal life.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us

The first part of this petition is conditional on the second: to be forgiven, we must forgive. When we fail to recognize and pass on the forgiveness God has given us, we move ourselves and others away from God. We are only able to forgive because we ourselves have been forgiven. Jesus shows us how and gives us strength to do as he did by forgiving us first. Through prayer, seeking advice from spiritual mentors, and receiving Sacraments like the Eucharist and Reconciliation, God showers his grace upon us, forging in us the capacity to forgive. By including this petition in the Lord’s prayer, Jesus reminds us that we cannot give our heart fully to God if there is any animosity towards others in it.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil .

The wording of this petition is confusing due to the difficulty of translating the original Greek into English. It can sound like we are asking God not to lead us into temptation, but God can’t tempt us against Himself. On the contrary, God wants to set us free from evil. So, in this petition, we ask God not to let us take the path that leads to sin.

We turn to God and ask him to help us distinguish between His voice and the voices that try to lead us away from him. We can distinguish between these voices is to ask questions like – is this thought or desire leading me closer to God? Does this open me to goodness, truth, and beauty? Will this action show God’s love to others and myself?

Meaning, “so be it,” when we declare “amen,” we are saying that we believe and mean everything we just prayed for.

You can pray the Lord’s Prayer in both English and Aramaic, with Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen as your guide, in Hallow. You’ll find the in-depth meditation on the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father) in the Challenges tab of the app. We look forward to praying with you!

Related Prayers

How to Pray the Hail Mary Prayer
How to Pray the Rosary
How to Pray the Litany of Humility

Let your life be transformed by this prayer that God Himself gave us.

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The Our Father Prayer

Previous Page: Traditional Prayer

The words to The Our Father Prayer are as follows:

Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.

Where does the Prayer to Our Father appear in the Bible?

Is the Our Father a biblical prayer?

Yes, it is for the most part. But see the note below about the Doxology.

The Our Father Prayer appears in the Gospels of Matthew 6:9 and Luke 11:2. in the Bible.

Mark 11:25 does not give the complete prayer, but it does include a similar section explaining the importance of forgiveness:

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

The Our Father is the prayer that Jesus gives when asked by the Disciples: “Lord, teach us to pray.”

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Also known as the Lord’s Prayer

The Our Father prayer is also known as the Lord’s Prayer.

There could be two explanations for this name.

1. Jesus tells us to pray this prayer. Jesus is often referred to in the Christian tradition as Lord.

2. God the Father, the 'I Am' is known as Lord and this is a prayer to the Father, to the Lord.

What is the doxology in the Our Father prayer?

The doxology is the last part of the Our Father.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.

The doxology does not appear in the Bible.

In the Catholic tradition the prayer is said without the doxology when said in private.

Doxology is a generic term for a short hymn of praise ( I love that!). But, in practice, if people know the word doxology they understand it to mean this short addition to the Our Father prayer.

Although the doxology doesn't come from the Bible, the words echo those of 1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. ( 1 Chronicles 29:11, NIV Bible quote)

Now that truly is a short hymn of praise!

God The Father

I grew up calling the prayer the Our Father and I love this name.

The name emphasises for me the Father aspect of God.

My interpretation is that the Our Father prayer speaks of the protection, availability and strength of God .

The meaning of the prayer is to encourage us to be vulnerable and needy with God in a way that is natural in the relationship of a child with its parent.

It encourages us to cultivate a relationship of dependency on a God who is far more reliable than any earthly father . This, in turn, allows us to become less and less dependent on the people in our ever-changing world.

The emphasis of the prayer is on our relationship with God as Father. This is a relationship we share with Jesus and with all others, so the prayer itself is an affirmation of our Oneness in God - we are all family - brothers and sisters.

The importance of forgiveness

A further breakdown of the prayer, Our Father, reveals a message about the importance of forgiveness.

The prayer says that God’s forgiveness of us is dependent upon our forgiveness of others .

My interpretation is that forgiveness by God is already given. In fact forgiveness by God is not even required because God is love and does not condemn.

However, God's unconditional love is beyond our comprehension. It is only when we forgive the other person we come to understand and receive the love and forgiveness of God which waits for us.

See the page on Prayer For Forgiveness for more on this topic of God and forgiveness.

The Our Father recognises both physical and spiritual reality, both time and timelessness

My interpretation is that the Our Father recognises both our physical and spiritual reality and the needs that result.

We can take the line: “Give us this day our daily bread” to affirm our belief that God or our belief in God allows us to be provided for in a very physical and practical way .

In Matthew’s gospel, the Our Father prayer is preceded by the statement that God knows what you need before you ask, underlining the idea that we can trust God to provide for all our physical needs.

When we pray “Thy will be done” we are expressing a willingness for God to work in our mind and in the physical world to allow us to experience physical changes. We are calling for a reality where God is in charge and the earth is transformed into heaven. We speak as though this will happen at some future time. This speaks of a physical reality of time and space.

Then, if we include the doxology, we go on to pray: “Thine is the kingdom.”

“Thine is the kingdom.” This is very powerful to me.

Not was the kingdom. Not will be the kingdom. “Thine is the kingdom.”

The meaning here is that God’s kingdom is an ever present reality . Right NOW in the present moment, God's kingdom is present.

To put it in the language of A Course In Miracles (ACIM) , this world is an illusion . It is only the junk in our own minds that stop us from touching the reality and perfection of God’s Kingdom.

To pray the Our Father is to invite God to work in my mind to allow me to drop through the junk into an experience of the reality of His love .

The meaning of the Our Father is that, as we say it, we claim our daily food – both physical and spiritual.

We are willing for God to decide for us

It was such an important turning point when I recognised: I do not know what is best for me.

I need guidance. I need my decisions to be made by the energy that unites all things. Only then will I make a decision that is to the benefit of all.

In the Our Father we express the willingness to let God decide for us. We surrender our own expectations about how the situation should be or should turn out: "Thy will be done," we say.

A Poem About the Our Father Prayer

Thy will be done.

‘Thy will be done’ I say.

It seems a sacrifice– giving my life

to one who doesn’t know what’s best for me,

Until slowly I become convinced: He does.

And more than this,

that all along my will has been His.

‘Thy kingdom come,’ I say.

‘Thy will be done.’

Spiritual poems by the author on this site

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A symbol of Christian unity

The Our Father prayer is said by all Christian denominations. It is a powerful symbol of the Christian unity so many Christians aspire to.

Prayers based on the Our Father prayer

Dear God, Your kingdom is Love. Your Love is here. Your Love is changeless. Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. I give thanks that it is so.

God our Father,

We pray for the ability to set aside our differences and to recognise that we are all your children. We pray for your guidance to lead us, the family of the world, to live together in peace. Amen

"forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." I am so grateful for the spiritual law that when I forgive another I find your forgiveness of me waiting and I come to know your love a little more.

I want to know your love for me. And so....I forgive. I leave the HOW to you.

HOW = Honesty Openess Willingness

Articles relevant to the Our Father

In a discussion on the power of praying a traditional prayer , I talk more about what the Our Father prayer means to me.
Return to a list of prayers I said daily .
Move to read God the Father poems .
Move from The Our Father prayer to the next page – The Hail Mary Prayer.
Click on the link below to find a full list of prayers on this spiritual website - famous, personal, Christian and of no faith in particular.
List of Prayers & Advice
Our Father Prayer

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The “Cosmic Our Father” and the Lord’s Prayer

On September 20, 1913, on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone for the first Goetheanum, Rudolf Steiner spoke of a fifth gospel, and gave “as a first revelation of the fifth gospel . . . the primeval macrocosmic world-prayer which is connected with the Moon and Jupiter, even as the four gospels are connected with the Earth.” The prayer sounds thus:

AUM, amen! The evils prevail, Witness of unleashing of egohood, Incurred through others, selfhood-guilt, Experience it in daily bread In which heaven’s will does not prevail Since man departed from your kingdom And forgot your names, You fathers in the heavens.

In lectures later that year Rudolf Steiner spoke further about this prayer. On October 5 and 6 in Oslo he told how these words were experienced by Jesus of Nazareth in an event some years before the baptism, spoken by a voice out of the spiritual world. Steiner told further how then later the Christ Jesus transformed these words into what we know as the Lord’s Prayer.

In what way can we imagine the words of this “macrocosmic Our Father” as a prayer? By far the greatest number of prayers to be found in the Bible are in the psalms of David. There are prayers of supplication, prayers of thanks, and also prayers of praise. Something of each of these is contained in the Cosmic Our Father, but in mirror form. The words do imply a supplication that is not fully expressed. Rather than thanks, we can hear the statement of a condition where all hope is lost. And praise is replaced by a sense of loss.

Whose voice can we imagine speaking the words? The situation that called them forth was described by Rudolf Steiner as arising from Jesus’s experience of compassion for the God-forsaken people in the neighborhood of Judea. He characterized the voice as “the transformed voice of the Bath-Kol”, that voice which was the last remnant of what had been the spiritual inspiration of the Hebrew prophets. But what we can understand further of the nature of the voice derives from the words themselves.

English version

Tradition and interpretation.

Lord’s Prayer

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Academia - The Jewish Origins of the Lord's Prayer
Learn Religion - Jesus teaches his disciples the Lord's Prayer
Digital Commons at George Fox University - The Lord's Prayer: A Study in Christian Theology
Christian Classics Ethereal Library - The Preface to the Lord’s Prayer
McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia - Lords Prayer
JewishEncyclopedia.com - The Lord's Prayer
Table Of Contents

Louis Comfort Tiffany: Sermon on the Mount

Lord’s Prayer , Christian prayer that, according to tradition, was taught by Jesus to his disciples . It appears in two forms in the New Testament : the shorter version in the Gospel According to Luke (11:2–4) and the longer version, part of the Sermon on the Mount , in the Gospel According to Matthew (6:9–13). In both contexts it is offered as a model of how to pray. The Matthean version is used in liturgy and is commonly recited or sung before the Eucharist in many churches. The Lord’s Prayer is also used in forms of prayer such as the Roman Catholic recitation of the rosary and the daily office, or divine office , of the Anglican church .

A canonical prayer of Christianity used in nearly all denominations of the faith, the Lord’s Prayer is considered a model of how to pray. It consists of an introductory address to God as “Father” and seven petitions.

Christ as Ruler, with the Apostles and Evangelists (represented by the beasts). The female figures are believed to be either Santa Pudenziana and Santa Praxedes or symbols of the Jewish and Gentile churches. Mosaic in the apse of Santa Pudenziana, Rome,A

The Matthean version is as follows:

Our Father who art in heaven , hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

The English version of the Lord’s Prayer used in many Protestant churches replaces the lines “and forgive us our trespasses / as we forgive those who trespass against us” with:

and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

In Eastern Rite and Protestant churches, a doxology (a praise response) is added:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

The doxology is believed to have originated in the Didachē , a compilation of Christian teaching written in Syria or Egypt in the 1st or 2nd century. The doxology has been a part of the liturgy of Eastern churches for centuries but did not enter the Protestant liturgy until after the Reformation . Following the Second Vatican Council (1962–65), it was added to the Roman Catholic mass in a gesture of ecumenism; it is spoken by the congregation after the embolism, an additional petition for deliverance against evil recited by the priest before the breaking of the bread.

In 2019 Pope Francis approved a change to the language of the sixth petition, from “lead us not into temptation” to “do not abandon us to temptation,” for the Italian translation in the Roman Missal. Similarly, the prayer in Spanish states “do not let us fall into temptation.”

The Lord’s Prayer draws upon prayers from the Jewish tradition in its structure, language, and themes. Like the Jewish Decalogue, or Ten Commandments , it begins with a focus on the character and nature of God before shifting to human needs and responsibilities. The Lord’s Prayer also contains three common elements of Jewish prayers: praise, petition, and a yearning for the coming kingdom of God . The Didachē recommended reciting the Lord’s Prayer three times a day, a practice that emulates Jewish prayers, particularly the amidah , a series of benedictions that praise God and petition for forgiveness.

References to God as “Father” and to “the kingdom” correspond to language in the Hebrew Bible , and the prayer’s ending petitions mirror pleas in the Talmud against temptation. The Kaddish , a hymn of praise used in Jewish liturgy, closely aligns with the Lord’s Prayer in all but the lengths of phrases, which are longer in the Jewish prayer.

The differences between the two Gospel versions of the Lord’s Prayer reflect the different contexts in which it is given. Matthew’s version is embedded in the Sermon on the Mount , in which Jesus instructs his followers on personal practices of piety. Luke’s shorter version is given at the request of his disciples, rather than delivered to a multitude.

Despite the prayer’s universal use in Christianity, biblical scholars disagree on its interpretation. Some view it as “existential,” referring to present human experience on earth, while others interpret it as eschatological , referring to the coming kingdom of God. The prayer lends itself to both interpretations, and further questions are posed by the existence of different translations and the problems inherent in the process of translation. In the case of the term daily bread , for example, the Greek word epiousion , which modifies bread , has no known parallels in Greek writing and may have meant “for tomorrow.” The petition “Give us this day our daily bread” may thus be given the eschatological interpretation “Give us today a foretaste of the heavenly banquet to come.” This interpretation is supported by Ethiopic versions and by St. Jerome ’s reference to the reading “bread of the future” in the lost Gospel According to the Hebrews. The eschatological interpretation suggests that the Lord’s Prayer may have been used in a eucharistic setting in the early church; the prayer is recited before the Eucharist in most Christian traditions.

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Essay on the Lord’s Prayer

Abstract: Our whole life is a prayer which consists of a praise to God, a hallelujah, an amen, an echo on the Lord’s Prayer. It embodies the kingdom of God advancing forcefully and us vigorously laying hold of God’s kingdom. It represents our calling. Paul’s statement on the ministry of the Spirit was spot on: “ But thanks to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” (2 Cor 2:14). We should never settle for less, for Jesus’ death was too costly.

1. Introduction

The Gospels convey a lot of information about Jesus’ prayer life. He prayed through the night, rose up early in the morning to pray, went alone to the mountain side to pray and went to lonely spots to pray. The writer of Hebrews commented on Jesus’ prayer life as follows: “He offered prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, …”. (Heb 5:7). He talked to his Father in the dark moments of his life on earth and made great decisions after long periods of prayer.

When one of Jesus’ disciples asked Him: “ Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples ” He taught them the Lord’s Prayer, a short prayer with impressive content.

Jesus began with: “Therefore do not be like them (people with their long prayers with many words). For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Mt 6:8). Very often we are telling God about our needs which He, in his love and care, already knows. We are telling Him things as if He is very far away and has no eyes to see or ears to hear, or we are trying to convince Him to help us as if He does not love us. Sometimes we think that the key to successful prayer depends on the way we pray, the words we use and the effort we put into the prayer. At the same time we are not attentive with Whom we are speaking and do not even ask for his will.

Before we discuss the Lord’s Prayer, we have to make two important remarks:

Prayer is part of a Christian’s life and prayer is never without living. There ought to be no Christian living without constant prayer and no prayer without living. You may not first live and then pray, or pray and then live. Prayer and living belongs together.
Prayer is a dialogue with God. Prayer is part of a constant walk with God; a walk together with God to His intended goal for us.

With the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus is putting our “talk to… and walk with” God on much more solid ground.

2. Summary of the Lord’s Prayer

We start off with a short summary of the content of the Lord’s Prayer. (You will find a full discussion of the content of the Lord’s Prayer in ATS’ online course on Prayer ):

2.1 The first part of the prayer – God’s concerns:

“ Our Father in heaven, … ” . It is unique in the religious world for man as a product of creation and part of a tragic, sin-filled world to call God, the almighty creator, “our Father”. It is only possible through the death and resurrection of his holy Son, Jesus Christ and the implementation of this truth through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. It implies that the Lord’s Prayer is built on God’s grace and intervention in this world and our lives.

The first prayer: “ Hallowed be your name” is a request that God will reveal Himself to us, that his greatness, love, goodness and his glory will become known and visible to us and to the whole world. A prayer that his name becomes part of our lives, changes us so that we become bearers of his name, totally controlled by Him and to be able to live to glorify Him as Paul wrote to Timothy: “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever”. (1 Tim 1:17).

The second prayer: “Your kingdom come” is a request that the almighty, sovereign God would establish his kingdom, his presence, his supremacy and reign through the resurrected Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit establishes God’s dominion in our lives and in the world through the victory of Jesus Christ over sin and the power of all evil forces. The purpose of Jesus’ entire earthly life was: the good news of the coming of God’s kingdom.

The third prayer: “ Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is a hopeful cry reaching from far below, a call from a broken and sin-controlled world, to heaven where God’s will rules. “Please, let your goodwill be on this world of ours, as it is in your glorious heaven. Please God, control my own life and the whole world. Teach me to obey your Word and to be sensitive to the whispering of the Holy Spirit.”

2.2 The last three prayers are about our own concerns:

The last three prayers amaze us with God’s consideration for our daily needs.

“Give as this day our daily bread .” In the coming of his kingdom the good heavenly Father is concerned about our daily needs on all levels of life. A good, loving and almighty God is providing abundantly for his children. In Jesus’ death and resurrection, He already made provision for all our needs.

“ And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors . ” This request is a concern regarding our spiritual stance towards God. Our sins separated us and are constantly separating us from a holy God and condemning us to a situation of eternal death. Although we are Christians, we have nothing to offer God for our enormous debt or shortfalls. We have no right or merit but are continually depending on the abundance of his grace, through Jesus Christ, our High Priest.

We appreciate the continuous conviction of the Holy Spirit in our sanctification process. A process that makes us aware of our sins and shortfalls in the presence of a holy God but also assures us of the constant atonement of Jesus, our High Priest.

The “forgiving of our debtors” is not primarily a precondition for forgiveness from God, but rather proof of the new reality that follows from the truth of being forgiven by God. A Christians’ life is “ to live with a plus ”. A Christian is able to forgive and to forget since he has become a new creation. Something is wrong, when “forgiving our debtors” is not a part of being a new creation through God’s forgiveness.

The last prayer: “ And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one . ” This prayer does no presuppose that a Christian will be exempted from temptation and suffering in this world; on the contrary, these are part of a Christian’s daily life. Evil includes the devil, sin, depravity, wickedness, all things that are opposed to the holy, almighty and loving God. Till the second coming of Jesus we will be submitted to this broken world with its hostility against God and his people. We are however assured of deliverance through the victory that Jesus has already attained by his death and resurrection. Through the work of the Holy Spirit a Christian is not a victim of evil, but a conqueror.

3. The prayer lacks a conclusion, an “amen”.

The benediction to the Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:13b) that we find in some Bible translations (e.g. KJV, NKJV, 1953 Afrikaans vertaling) is not included in the most authoritative manuscripts of Matthew’s text. It is therefore accepted that it did not originate from the original text of Matthew’s gospel. The early believers were used to honour God with a doxology, a praise offering at the end of a prayer. This closing phrase was their own spontaneous participation and a marvelous end – an amen – to the prayer taught by Jesus: “ For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. ”

This doxology is without doubt a magnificent and appropriate close to the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is a request which is in harmony with Jesus’ declaration in Matthew 11:12: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” (NIV Mt 11:12).

3.1 Two questions

We have to deal with two questions: Where did the suggested close, the doxology and the “amen” come from? And why did Jesus end the prayer without a closure, an amen?

(i) It is generally accepted that the origin of this doxology is to be found in David’s prayer recorded in 1 Chronicles 19:10-15. This doxology is a condensed form of a longer version in David’s prayer. You will often find the same kind of doxology in the New Testament (see Rom 11:36).

David’s prayer started with: “ Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, forever and ever. ” It is a prayer with an abundance of praise offering to God for his greatness, power, glory, majesty, his kingdom, his reign and headship over all. Praise to Him, the giver of all things. This prayer was made by David after he had offered all his personal gold and silver to build a temple for God and his people also had made a huge contribution. The doxology was born out of pure gratitude and joy towards God who enabled them to make such great contributions. Everything, riches and honor, comes from God.

(ii) To answer the question “why Jesus ended the prayer without a closure, an amen?” you first have to understand that prayer is a dialogue, a conversation between God and us. Real prayer consists of God who speaks first and then he waits on us to take part in the dialogue. The initiative and the content of our prayer, our dialogue with God, comes from God. Prayer is a response to and a echo of God’s coming to us.

Prayers as dialogues between God and his people are, inter alia, found in the following Biblical episodes:

Genesis 18:17-32: The Lord and Abraham talking about Lot in Sodom.
John 15:1-16: Jesus the true vine talking to us as branches and inviting us to ask from Him.
2 Corinthians 1:19-21: Jesus and Paul with the “amen” on God’s promises.
Romans 8:26-28: The Holy Spirit and the believer in times of suffering.
Ephesians 6:18: God through the Holy Spirit in constant dialogue with the believer in the midst of the great battle.

Notice how God takes the initiative in prayer and defines the content of prayer in the above mentioned episodes.

In Genesis 18 the discussion was built on the fact that God called Abraham “ … since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him … that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He had spoken to him.” The dialogue was built on God’s covenant with Abraham and therefore the Lord waited on Abraham – after He made know his intentions – to start his prayer on behalf of Lot and his family.
In the parable of the true vine in John 15, Jesus said that He calls us his friends and therefore He tells us about his Father’s plans. He also promises us that the Father will give us whatever we ask in his name, so that we may bear fruit – fruit that will last.
In 2 Corinthians 1:20,21 we learn that: “ For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (NIV). Jesus guarantees God’s promises and we agree and accept it with an “amen” to glorify God.
Paul informs us in Romans 8 that: “ … the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” (v 26,27). This is a magnificent account of praying together with the help of the Holy Spirit.
In Ephesians 6:12 Paul wrote about the struggle of a Christian against the world’s powers of darkness and the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly realms. In the last part of his description of God’s armor he remarked: “ and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests .” (NIV). This battle is a constant, never-ending endeavour of prayer inspired by the Holy Spirit and building on what Jesus did.

4 Our own contribution to the dialogue

Jesus taught us the Lord’s prayer to give our prayers content according to his will, but in this open-ended prayer He gives us the opportunity to add our own part to the prayer, or our own contribution to the dialogue, or our appropriate response.

4.1 The content

With Jesus’ decision to leave the Lord’s Prayer open ended without a closure, He actually gives us the opportunity to ponder over the content while we pray. He gives us an opportunity to make it our own, to agree to it with a doxology to the great and loving God through Jesus Christ . He invites us in the prayer to personally respond to the good news of: “… the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” (NIV Mt 11:12). The doxology is nothing less than our response on God’s coming to us through Jesus Christ; a response on every detail of the Lord’s Prayer.

We are invited to constantly experience his majesty, power and victory, his reign, and love, as revealed in Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. The first prayer: “ Hallowed be your name ” becomes part of our thinking and living.

Our prayers consist of our agreement, our “ amen ” which actually is our “Hallelujah”, our rejoicing and praise to God: “Hallowed be your name.”

The Hallelujah Psalms, especially the last eight Psalms are brilliant examples of praise to God by the whole creation and by all people with all means available to them. Praises must be done by God’s people in such a way that the whole world, a world filled with doubt and sin, be convinced of, and confess to the truth of God, his greatness and his love.

4.2 The origin

The origin of our contribution of praise at the end of the prayer is also coming from God.

The origin of our prayer is what God did through Jesus Christ, but our daily personal initiative in prayer, our “Hallelujahs” and “Amens” are also a creation of God himself through the Holy Spirit. Our talk to God in bed during the night, during the day, on street and at home, our daily living is by God’s grace: “ And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.” (NIV 2 Cor 1:20,21).

In Romans eight Paul tells us that in times of suffering when: “ … the whole creation has been groaning as in pains of childbirth … we ourselves … groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. … We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (Rom 8:23-26).

Paul’s great doxology in Romans 11:33-36, which might have been built on Isaiah 40:12-15, ends with: “ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.”

5.3 Our calling

Our praise or “amen” response embraces our calling; it is a moment to say “yes” on his calling.

Our prayer, our part in the dialogue may seem so small. Just a response to God, just an echo to his coming to us, just a hallelujah, an amen or a doxology of praise to God, is the work of the Holy Spirit. In recognising this, the question is: What makes our addition to the Lord’s Prayer important? Why did Jesus wait on our answer? Why did he wait on our “amen”?

In our prayer lives, we are partners with God, on his journey, to his eternal destination with us and the world, the new heaven and earth.

We find an immense truth conveyed by Jesus in John 15:15: “ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

The context of the metaphor of John 15 confirms a very intensive and dramatic moment of God’s walk with his people in this world. He addressed his disciples in the dark night before He was crucified. It forms the middle part of two classic chapters (15 and 16) where Jesus elaborated on the coming of the Holy Spirit and before his High Priest prayer in John 17. It contains strategic information needed by his disciples (church) who are remaining in this world.

In this metaphor of Jesus, his Father is the gardener who took the initiative to start a vineyard, Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches. To understand the process of Jesus becoming the true vine, we have to consider Jesus’ incarnation and death in our place and his resurrection. A very costly endeavour of God’s love to save humanity. It is to God’s glory when the branches bear much fruit, meaning that God is glorified when we are successful in our calling.

Our partnership in this gardening of God – let us call it vineyard farming – is remarkable; we are no longer servants but are friends. It is significant, firstly, in the sense of our unity with Jesus ; we as the branches with Jesus as the vine. Actually, there is no division between the branches and the vine – it forms one inseparable united identity.

Secondly, that we are not only his friends, but we are informed friends . Informed about the Owner’s dreams, thinking, planning and wishes: “ Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you .”

We are co-partners with co-input and co-responsibilities. Twice in the metaphor (v7 and v16) we are reminded that we have the opportunity to take part in putting our wishes in words with the promise: “ It will be given.”

The most significant aspect of our partnership is found in Jesus’ words: “ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and to bear fruit – fruit that will last.” (15:16). Our involvement is not as a result of our initiative but of God’s eternal decision flowing out of his love.

Paul, and other New Testament writers, assure us that God chose us before creation (see Eph 1:4). To be chosen is an initiative from God, originating in eternity and was executed in Jesus Christ. This initiative of God contains four wonderful truths (Rom 8:29,30). He:

“predestined” us – God’s choice was made with a specific purpose in mind.
“called” us through the work of the Holy Spirit.
“justified” us – put us, by way of faith in Jesus and a miracle of the Holy Spirit, in right standing with Himself.
also “glorified” us. This is the shining brightness of his power, holiness and love in us. We are chosen to be glorified together with Christ (see Rom 8:17,30).

It is accepted that the Lord’s Prayer forms part of Jesus’ preaching on the coming of God’s kingdom: “ Jesus went throughout Galilee, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people .” (Mt 4:23 also Mark 6:56, Mt 9:35). The Lord’s Prayer is also in cohesion with Jesus’ answer to John’s question: “ Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Mt 11:2). John’s disciples were sent back to report to John what they had heard and saw, namely the signs of the coming of God’s kingdom in Jesus’ ministry.

On that day Jesus remarked to his disciples: “ I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; jet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” (Mt 11;11-12).

Our participation in the Lord’s Prayer, our praise to God, our “amen”, must be seen as part of the coming of God’s kingdom through Jesus and the Holy Spirit: “… and forceful men lay hold of it .” This is a Christian’s calling, his answer/echo to God in Jesus.

James wrote that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective: “Elijah was a man like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” (James 15:17,18).

Our entire life is a prayer which consists of a praise to God, a hallelujah, an amen, an echo on the Lord’s Prayer, which embodies the kingdom of God advancing forcefully and we also lay forcefully hold of God’s kingdom. It represents our calling. Paul’s statement on the ministry of the Spirit was spot on: “ But thanks to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” (2 Cor 2:14). We should never settle for less, for Jesus’ death was too costly.

God's calling , Holy Spirit , New Testament

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Father's Day Prayers 2024: 15 Prayers Celebrate the Dads in Your Life

Christianity.com Editorial Staff Christianity.com
Updated Jun 14, 2024

Father's Day is a celebration of appreciation for all fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, and all the men who provide leadership, guidance, and protection in your life. In addition to the gifts of appreciation and dinner outings, let's focus on sharing words gratitude and blessings as we prayer for our father's - both the biological and spiritual.

Use this collection of prayers for Father's Day to pray for your dad, husband, or other men in your life. Ask that God will bestow His grace and mercy upon them as they seek to influence and inspire the next generation. Pray that they would be mighty men of God.

Father's Day brings us an opportunity to reflect on the biblical importance of dads and honor the significant role they play in our lives. Throughout the Scriptures, we find profound examples of fatherhood that serve as a testament to the immense impact fathers have on their families, communities, and the spiritual growth of their children. From Abraham's unwavering faith to David's shepherd heart, fathers have been entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing and guiding their children in the ways of righteousness. On this special day, let us celebrate and encourage fathers, recognizing their vital role in shaping and molding the lives of their children, and let us express our heartfelt gratitude for their sacrificial love, strength, and unwavering support.

May these Father's Day prayers provide heartfelt petition and thanks to our Heavenly Father, God Almighty, and be a source of inspiration on this day we celebrate fatherhood.

Short, Simple Prayers for Father's Day

Dear God, thank you for my dad. Bless him with health, happiness, and strength. Amen.
Lord, I pray for my father’s wisdom and guidance. Help him feel your love every day. Amen.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the sacrifices my dad makes for our family. Fill his heart with joy and peace. Amen.
God, please protect my dad and keep him safe. Surround him with your love and grace. Amen.
Lord, I am grateful for the love and support my father gives me. Bless him abundantly today and always. Amen.

Short Blessings For Dads

Whether you're writing a heartfelt card or sharing a thoughtful message on social media, expressing your gratitude and appreciation can make their day even more meaningful. Here are 10 blessings you can share to honor and celebrate the dad or dad-like figures in your own life.

1. May your heart be filled with joy and your life with abundant love and happiness.

2. Bless you for your unwavering guidance and the strength you provide.

3. May you continue to inspire and uplift everyone around you with your wisdom and kindness.

4. Wishing you endless moments of happiness and a lifetime filled with cherished memories.

5. May your days be blessed with peace and your nights with restful sleep.

6. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and constant support.

7. Blessings to you for the love and sacrifices you make each and every day.

8. May your life be filled with joy, and may you always find fulfillment in the legacy of love you've built.

9. Thank you for being a constant source of encouragement and a shining example of strength.

10. Bless you for your nurturing spirit and the countless ways you make the world a better place.

A Father's Day Prayer of Hope

Dear God, We thank you for the gift of Dads in this life. We thank you that you are the greatest Dad ever, Abba Father, and we know that you cover us in your great love.

We pray for your blessing, favor, and strength over every Dad in this world, for those who are seeking to walk closely with you in a dark world, and for those who just need to be reminded that you are real. We ask for your renewed courage, for your boldness, for your Spirit to fill them. Make them always aware and alert of the schemes of the enemy. We ask that you would keep their footsteps firm, and guard their way. We ask that you would help them to always stand strong, to be men of faith , to say “no” to what is wrong, and to say “yes” to what is right. We ask that you would fill their hearts with love, compassion, joy, faithfulness, and cover their lives with great peace.

Thank you, God, that your Word is true. We hold fast to you today, we choose to immerse our lives in your Truth. We know that you are with us always and cover us in your power and strength.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (by Debbie McDaniel )

A Prayer for Christian Fathers

Heavenly Father, you entrusted your Son Jesus, the child of Mary, to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.

Bless all fathers as they care for their families. Give them strength and wisdom, tenderness and patience.

Support them in the work they have to do, protecting those who look to them, as we look to you for love and salvation, through Jesus Christ our rock and defender. ( author unknown )

A Prayer for Wisdom for Dads

Lord, I pray for wisdom. You know the challenges and the decisions that are required daily. You know the pressures I experience as I navigate through life. Give me wisdom in every area of my life. Let me be wise with relationships, wise with career, wise with money, wise with calling, and wise in every other area of life. Let the wisdom you give me be evident to all, and mostly recognized by my children. Let your wisdom be present in every choice I make so my life would be pleasing to you. Amen. (by Clarence L. Haynes Jr. )

A Prayer for New Dads

Lord, help me as I begin my journey into fatherhood. Even though I look forward to fatherhood, I face it with excitement and trepidation. Help me to know I can trust in you, and you will be with me on this journey. Remind me often that I don’t have to be perfect, but most importantly I need to be present in the life of my child. Give me new patience and new grace as I walk a road I have never walked before. However, I thank you that you have gone before me and will help me navigate these waters. Help me from day one to set the right example so my child will see you in me and will long for the God I serve to be present in their life. Amen. (by Clarence L. Haynes Jr. )

A Prayer about Fathers

Our Father in heaven, you have made yourself known to us through Jesus Christ and have invited us to pray to you as our Father, that we may pray boldly and confidently to you.

We pray for fathers. Give them wisdom. Give them patience. Give them the ability to love in a way that reflects your love.

We pray for the fatherless and those who struggle in their families. Be their Father when earthly fathers fail. Show them love and guidance, and help them to know a father’s love through your love, providence, and care.

Prayer for the Distant Father

Dear Lord, Help me to love my dad in a way that would bring honor to You and him. Help me to see beyond the external differences and into His eternal realm. Help me to live out “Love never fails” with my dad. Amen.

A Prayer to Our Heavenly Father

Heavenly Father, oh how I love You. Thank You for adopting me into Your family and making me Your child. Thank You for being my heavenly parent who loves me unconditionally, cares for me unendingly, and provides for all my needs. I’m so blessed to be Your child. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ( Sharon Jaynes )

A Prayer for Fathers

Dear Lord, Bless every father and every grandfather with the best of your spiritual blessings today. Let him know he is not alone in the tasks you have given him to provide for and support those under his care. Show him how much you delight in his work, and affirm the value of whatever You have given him to do—both as a father or grandfather and as a child of Yours. Confirm his worth daily so he has no reason to doubt whether he is loved in the eyes of his Heavenly Father.

Create in him a deep sense of trust in You, knowing that He can count on You to help him lead and protect those dependent on him. Let him know that every unselfish act of love and encouragement he has offered has been a gift that You receive gladly. Show him how effective the prayers of a godly man really are, and what a difference he has and can make to those around him, no matter how big or small the assignment.

Demonstrate to him Your amazing grace and forgiveness as he seeks to love and to know you with all of his heart, soul, and mind. Release him from unwanted burdens of false guilt, and bless him for his willingness to keep short accounts with You, forgiving both himself and others. Help him to see his children or grandchildren through Your eyes, realizing that in Your hands is the safest place they can ever be. Strengthen his confidence in the Only One who can bring good out of any situation.

Teach him how to meet the needs of his child's life that are within his ability to do so, but help Him to trust You for the rest. Push out any needless fears, and grant to him godly wisdom and spiritual guidance to lead and direct those precious children in Your path, knowing he must also release them into Your hands with prayerful love.

Complete any healing of past hurts or regrets that may interfere with parenting or grandparenting his children. Strengthen in him a sense of joy, humility, and playfulness that draw his family close. When plans don’t develop as he hopes, or dreams are not yet realized, open his eyes to see beyond this world to a greater joy that never disappoints, and to a Father who will never leave or abandon him or his loved ones.

Give him a passionate faith, a persevering spirit, and a powerful testimony that overcomes any weakness or doubt, as he wears the armor of God daily You have provided for him as a spiritual leader and child of God.

Today, on special days, and for all the days of his life, fill him with the best of Your blessings, so that one day he will stand before you and hear Your ultimate words of praise, “Well done, my son, well done!” In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ( written by Rebecca Barlow Jordan)

A Prayer for the Loss of a Father

Jesus, please bring people into their life who will listen with compassion, pray with sincerity, offer a shoulder to cry on, and allow them time and space to grieve their loss and deep anguish. Whether the loss is sudden or expected, there’s often regret for words left unsaid or words they wish they could take back. Lord, please help them feel your loving presence and wash over them a sense of peace in knowing they will see their loved one again if he was a believer.

When the pain is too deep and the grief too overwhelming, help them to seek help from someone who is trained in grief recovery. Lord, you tell us in Psalm 34:18 that you, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 147:3 NLT assures us that “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” Please, Lord, fulfill your Word in the lives today of all who are feeling helpless and fatherless. Amen (by Janet Thompson )

A Prayer for Those Who Lost Contact with Their Father

Our Father who art in heaven, there is great pain when a child—whether by choice or circumstances—loses communication with their earthly father or experiences an estrangement from him. Every Father’s Day reminds them that the man who you used to give them life is not in their life. Lord, you tell fathers not to anger their children, and yet we know in our humanness it happens. Or children can anger their father or choose to separate from their father like the prodigal son . But like the prodigal son, we pray the two will be united again while they still have time to reconcile with each other.

Pride often keeps the two apart, so we pray for that child who has abandoned fellowship with their father or the father who has disowned his own child will take the first step in restoring the relationship. So often, just hearing “I’m sorry” or “I forgive you” is the beginning of healing. Please give one of them the strength, courage, and desire to try to mend the grievances of the past.

Bible Verses and Scripture's to Encourage on Father's Day

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Malachi 4:6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.

Proverbs 23:24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

READ MORE: Father's Day Bible Verses to Encourage Your Dad or Husband

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6-year-old killed in freak accident with badminton racket while vacationing in Maine

A New Jersey family is mourning the loss of a girl who was accidentally killed in a freak accident just over a week ago while family members played badminton.

The girl, 6-year-old Lucy Morgan, is from Stockholm, New Jersey. She was on vacation in Limerick, Maine, about 33 miles west of Portland.

According to a news release from Maine State Police and family, the girl’s family members were playing badminton in the afternoon on June 1 when the aluminum shaft of the badminton racket broke off its wooden handle and hit her in the head, piercing her skull.

Limerick Fire and EMS showed up and notified the Maine State Police Southern Field Troop, MSP said in the news release. She was transported to a hospital and then flown to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she died four days later.

Authorities said her death was an accident.

“The Maine State Police would like to extend their deepest condolences to the Morgan family,” police wrote in the press release.

Lucy's father says they were 'praying for a miracle'

Jesse Morgan, Lucy’s father, is the worship and discipleship pastor at the Green Pond Bible Chapel in Rockaway Township, according to the North Jersey Record , part of the USA TODAY network.

After his daughter’s accident, he shared updates on his website, newcreationliving.com .

The incident happened on the family’s last full day on vacation in Maine, her father wrote.

“We were eating a quick lunch by the lake and the kids decided to try badminton in the front yard,” he wrote. “Bethany and I were relaxing in the back when we heard screaming.”

Badminton is a racket sport where two to four players hit a shuttlecock across a net. The shuttlecock is a shaped like a cone and made of overlapping feathers attached to a circular cork base, according to Racquet Point . The game is normally played indoors with one or two players on each side.

He added that Lucy was sitting on the sidelines when the incident occurred. The girl was initially still breathing but unresponsive, he said.

After she was taken to the hospital, doctors removed part of her skull to relieve pressure, her father wrote. They were told there was a “very slim chance” she’d recover. She was intubated and had no brain function, he said.

“We are praying for a miracle but our hearts hurt with incomprehensible pain,” he wrote at the time. “I have so many scattered thoughts and memories.”

Girl was ‘Miss Independent’ but also a cuddler

On the website, the dad described Lucy as "Miss Independent" and said that his daughter was curious about God and had a strong faith. The girl had recently "prayed to God to forgive her and that she believed in Jesus’ death and resurrection," her father wrote.

"What a gift," he added.

He said his daughter had recently sung “He Will Hold Me Fast,” a song she loved. Her family sang the song as they rested in her hospital room. Her father told the Record that it was one of the "most beautiful, sacred things I've ever been part of."

Her family also said she was a cuddler and was a great older sister. She was her mother’s mini me, the Record reported.

A prayer journal and GoFundMe

As the family drove back to New Jersey, her father often glanced into his rearview mirror hoping he’d see Lucy snacking like usual, the Record reported.

Once they returned home, they cried and remembered Lucy. They later opened her backpack and found her prayer journal, where she had written about how much she loves God and Jesus.

Loved ones started a GoFundMe to support the Morgans. To donate, visit www.tinyurl.com/LucyMorgan .

Lucy’s memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Green Pond Bible Chapel, her father posted .

“We have received so much comfort and support from close loved ones and random people pouring out love,” he wrote online .” We never asked for this immense trial, but the reports of other children coming to Christ, about neighbors having gospel conversations, and grief being shared helps us continue to walk by faith in this profound pain. Bless you on your journey. He will hold you fast.”

The service will also be available for social media users to watch at greenpondbible.org/livestream .

Contributing: Lori Comstock, North Jersey Record

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at [email protected] .

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