Growing up I can honestly say I that I did not have a good grasp of the Lord’s prayer and that I really did not understand why on occasion people felt compelled to repeat it out loud in groups. So, on those occasions where we were asked to recite the Lord’s prayer, I may have been known to “fake it” by waiting long enough to hear the next phrase and then mimic what everyone else was saying (can anyone relate?). Of course, I realize that my lack of understanding related to the Lord’s Prayer may also be somewhat of a reflection of my church upbringing, but that may be for another post. At some point along my spiritual walk though, I began to have a better understanding that Jesus provided the Lord’s Prayer to the disciples as a model for us in how to pray, rather than it just being a prayer in the Bible that we were to occasionally recite.
Knowing that the Lord’s prayer is important to both understand and to use as a model for my own prayers has led me to expound on the Lord’s Prayer as a means for it to be meaningful in my prayer life. To be clear, I do believe that repeating the Lord’s Prayer has value. However, for me, elaborating on the meaning of the Lord’s prayer and then regularly praying my “long version” as part of my prayer life helps me in being faithful in my prayer life and in worshipping God.
As noted, I developed my long version as an explanation of The Lord’s Prayer, and as a prayer I could pray through regularly to help me on my spiritual walk. My intention in providing it below, is a hope that this may also be helpful in your prayer life and spiritual walk as you heed God’s command to seek Him with all of your heart (Jeremiah 29:13), and to “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,NIV). If you find this prayer meaningful to you, I encourage you to read through this prayer regularly (I also sometimes focus on just one or two aspects of the prayer each day of the week) as part of your daily walk with the Lord.
THE LORD’S PRAYER – Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven: Almighty and everlasting God, you are my celestial Father both within me in spirit and above me in the perfect realm of Heaven. Holy Father, help me to be an obedient child and to put aside my sinful desires, and help me to be holy in all I do, because you are holy (1 Peter 1:14-16). Lord, as my heavenly father, you discipline and rebuke me because you love me as a father delights in his children (Proverbs 3:11-12). I acknowledge that as my Heavenly Father you also unite me with other Christians through the Church in a community as your children. Lord, I praise you and thank you for all that it means for you to be my Heavenly Father.
hallowed be your name: I revere and praise you God above all else, and I acknowledge that you are the one true God, the Creator and Ruler of the Universe (Genesis 1:1). Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours O Lord is the Kingdom: You are exalted as head over all (I Chronicles 29:11). And there is no one like you O Lord, and there is no God but You (I Chronicles 17:20).
Your kingdom come: Dear Jesus, I Desire the Kingdom of God to reside in me and be demonstrated through a life of righteousness, peace, joy, faith, hope and love (I Corinthians 13:13), and I ask that you will be glorified through my being a blessing to my neighbors. I pray for the promise of a new heaven and a new earth to be fulfilled, and I long for the day to be a part of the faithful who will live with you in Your Kingdom eternally. Lord, I understand that to seek first the Kingdom of God is in part to allow you to rule and to reign in my life here on Earth (Matthew 6:33). I therefore surrender my life to you Lord Jesus, which includes surrendering control of my life to you and placing you first in every aspect of my life.
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven: God, I petition you to help me to follow your will, not mine, and to love you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength (Matthew 22:37-40). The Most High and Almighty God, guide me to fear you out of reverence and awe, to keep your commandments and to walk in your ways (Ecclesiastes 12:13). And I pray for help to love my neighbor as myself, through praying for and caring for my neighbors, and through sharing the gospel so that they may hear of your saving grace and sacrificial love.
Give us today our daily bread: I pray for my physical needs to be met today. Additionally, I petition you for daily spiritual provisions so that I can have the fortitude to go out into the world and spread Your Message through my words, actions and deeds. Father, I also pray for the physical and spiritual needs of my neighbors. Lord, help me to feed on the nourishment that comes from the Word of God and that comes from communion with You, Jesus, as you are the “bread of life” that comes down from Heaven so that “whoever feeds on this bread will live forever” (John 6:48-58).
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors: Dear Heavenly Father, I believe that you have forgiven me of my sins through my faith in the virgin birth and sacrifice of your one and only son on the cross as a substitute and payment for my sins (John 3:16). Holy God, I believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that Christ, the King of Kings, is at the right hand of God interceding for me so that I will be judged faithful, and therefore I will live with you eternally in heaven (Romans 2:8, 8:34). Lord, I also confess that I am continually a sinner in need of forgiveness, and I ask for forgiveness for my specific sins this day. Jesus, help me to be kind and compassionate to others and to be forgiving, just as you forgave me (Ephesians 4:32). Therefore Lord, I forgive those specific people who have caused me harm this day. Heavenly Father, please help me to replace any resentment with forgiveness so that I reflect your Love and mercy in my daily actions (Mark 11:25). Dear God, help me to live a life of forgiveness so that I can walk more confidently in your love and saving grace.
And lead us not into temptation: I know, my God that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity (1 Chronicles 29:17), so Lord help me to live a life of faithfulness, truthfulness and integrity. Dear Lord, I acknowledge my human weaknesses. I pray for your guiding hand over me and I ask that you grant me the discernment necessary to steer clear of temptation and sin (1 Corinthians 10:13). Holy God, I know that your word is flawless and that it is a shield and a refuge for those who delight in you (Psalm 18:30). Dear Jesus, allow your word to teach me, rebuke me, correct me and train me in righteousness, so that I may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
but deliver us from the evil one: Dear Jesus, the Prince of Peace and the One True Counselor, I know that to live according to the sinful nature is death, because the mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God and cannot submit to your commands (Romans 8:7). Therefore, Lord, lead me by your Spirit, and put to death the misdeeds of the body, and help me to desire what you desire. For I know that the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:5-6). Lord, equip me with the full armor of God, so that I am able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). Holy God, during those times of failure, help me to seek you, and deliver me from fear and sin. Almighty Father, protect me from the devil’s grasp in all circumstances (James 4:7).
Not to me but to your name be the glory (Psalm 115:1). O Lord God of heaven, great and awesome God, keep me on the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14) and help me to experience my identity in Christ alone (Galatians 2:20). Dear Jesus, let your ear be attentive and your eyes be open to hear the prayer your servant is praying. Lord God, I praise you and thank you for your wisdom, guidance and unfailing love. Dear heavenly Father, help me to surrender my will to you, and to seek and to serve you with a wholehearted love and devotion (I Chronicles 28:9). In Jesus’s name, Amen
Resources:
Christianity, https://www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/breakdown-of-the-lords-prayer.html,
The Holy Bible
The MacArthur New Testament Commentary by John MacArthur
I will be using this in my prayer time. Thank you for making His word more clear and applicable.