The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer that Jesus taught the disciples to pray. It is found in the mouth of Jesus two times {Luke 11:1-4, Matthew 6:9-13). Let’s look at the version in Luke today.

The Lord's Prayer

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 

And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

“Father, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread,

and forgive us our sins,

  for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.”

The disciples struggled with prayer - just like you and me. They noticed Jesus was not only good at prayer, but was constantly pulling away to pray. They could hear the strength and faith in his prayers.

They could see the answers to his prayer and they could see that Jesus lived in tune with God.

So they asked Him one day,

“Lord, teach us to pray.”

Now I don’t know about you, but I am expecting something big here. Something mysterious Jesus knew that the rest of us do not. Some secret code, or secret passage word, or some kind of insight that will blow all of our minds. But instead Jesus says this: “When you pray, say: [insert Lord’s prayer].

What? Thats it?

36 words?

Basic concepts?

Short sentences?

It only took me 13 seconds to pray this.

There has to me more, right?

No. God is not looking for your showy, wordy, hyper-spiritual, theological prayers. He’s not looking for you to get all emotionally worked up. He’s not asking you to journal, or fast, or walk over broken glass.

He just wants you to talk to God

like a child would talk to his Father.

He even gives you the words in case you didn’t bring your own. “Say this!”

This really shows the brilliance of Jesus. The best leaders, teachers, preachers and communicators are able to take top shelf concepts and put them on the bottom shelf so everybody can understand and engage. When you really understand something you can summarize it succinctly and clearly.

Jesus also wants us to know that this prayer actually covers everything you need to talk to God about.

It’s really about how God has,

is, and will cause his

heavens and this

broken earth to collide

in a flood of grace. 

It also tells us that God is there listening. He hears your heart and answers based on what you need. When we pray this, he edits us to be more aligned with him and his purposes.

This prayer will calm anxieties,

cleanse guilt, and

free you from shame.

This prayer will deliver you

from temptation and evil. 

Why? Because this is what Jesus said we should pray about.

Homework: Take 15 minutes to reflect. Pray this prayer out loud 5 times. Then take a few seconds on each concept and pray to God. He is there. Part 2 next week.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Harvey