Pastor Barbara Perdue

The Lord’s Prayer is a powerful model for prayer. I’m always surprised when someone says they don’t know how to pray. In its simplest form, prayer is just talking to God. I can set your mind at ease right now—God loves when you talk to Him and won’t get mad if you don’t pray a certain way. Even Jesus’ disciples didn’t know how to pray, so the pressure is off!

What is the Lord’s Prayer?
Jesus’ disciples had seen Him pray with powerful results, so they asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus gave them a quick lesson that we call the Lord’s Prayer. The purpose of the prayer was to serve as a model for prayer. Remember, it is an example to follow and not the only prayer to pray.

What are the main themes of the Lord’s Prayer?
Often, we memorize and say the words of the Lord’s Prayer without thinking about what they mean and why Jesus chose them as the model for prayer. Let’s look at the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer verse by verse.

Matthew 6:9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
We should start our prayer focusing on God, not our wants or needs. We begin by welcoming the presence of God and recognizing He is holy. This sets the foundation for us to focus on Him.

Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
In heaven, there is no sadness, suffering, or sickness (Revelation 7:16 and 21:4). We should pray for the things of heaven to come to the earth, so let’s pray for the joy of the Lord to be our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), abundant living (2 Corinthians 9:8), and for healing (Matthew 12:15).

Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
God is a good Father, so He will provide for His children when we ask. In fact, Matthew 7:11 says, “…how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” We don’t need to be hoarders; ask what you need today.

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Forgiveness plays a crucial role in Christian life. Jesus paid the ultimate price for our forgiveness by dying and rising again to cleanse us of our sins. If we have received such immense forgiveness, how can we justify not forgiving others?

Matthew 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Praise God that He never is the source of our temptation (James 1:13). This part of the prayer asks for God’s guidance for deliverance from evil. The Lord’s Prayer begins with praising God and ends with praise. Keep praising God in your prayers; it will help you remember what an awesome God you are praying to and that He has the power to answer your prayers!

How does the Lord’s Prayer reflect Jesus’ teachings?
The Lord’s Prayer reflects Jesus’ teachings that God is our Father when we become His children through accepting Jesus’ payment for our sin (John 1:12). Jesus taught about provision and how God takes care of birds, so He will take care of you (Matthew 6:26). Another of Jesus’ teachings focused on forgiving. Jesus’ disciples thought they were doing great if they forgave someone seven times until Jesus challenged them to forgive seventy times seven or 490 times (Matthew 18:21–22). There is no limit to God’s forgiveness, so we should also be forgiving toward others.

How can I apply the Lord’s Prayer to my daily life?
Now that we understand the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer, let’s actively apply it to our lives. Do you genuinely view God as a loving Father who takes good care of you? By embracing this truth, you’ll begin to recognize His goodness and stop viewing every problem as a punishment. God consistently cares for His children.

Some people work full-time out of worrying about the future and living in fear. If we applied the themes from the Lord’s Prayer to our lives, we would have peace knowing God supplies our needs and will lead us out of evil. When I let peace rule in my life (Colossians 3:15), I choose to rest in knowing that God is with me, He will take care of me, and He loves me. As I apply the Lord’s Prayer to my life, I remember that the God who created the universe and is all-powerful is also my loving Father, who I can trust to take care of me. I hope this helps you to talk regularly with God and trust Him with all your needs.

Suppose you would like to learn about other examples of prayer. In that case, Pastor Lawson Perdue has a 4-part teaching, “The Prayers of Paul,” that explores how Paul prayed for spiritual revelation, strength, and the power of Christ at work in believers. You’ll gain insight into your identity in Christ, the authority God has given you, and how prayer can shape your life. Pastor Lawson explains these scriptures clearly, practically, and with profound encouragement. Additionally, Pastor Lawson teaches a 3-part series, “Praying with Power,” about praying from a position of victory, the believer’s authority, and receiving revolutionary revelation through prayer.

Go to charischristiancenter.com and search the Shop for “The Prayers of Paul” and “Praying with Power.”