Our Father in heaven,
Lord, we are commanded, encouraged to look to You, the Creator of the Universe, in a personal way, as a perfect Father. As good as our fathers might have been, You, as “our Father in heaven” always responds in perfect love, perfect patience, perfect timing, for You alone know what has been, what is, and what will be. You are not limited to this physical world and time, but are in heaven, ruling over time and eternity. Help us not forget this prayer was given by the Son, who of His own will became a man, breaking through time and eternity to walk in the limitations of human flesh that we might see how much You, God love us, and also provide the way to forgiveness and restoration of that personal relationship that we might be able to call You, “our Father.”
hallowed be Your name,
Lord, You alone are hallowed, holy, separate from us, Creator, not creation. Holy is Your name, Your name is the personification of who You Are – The Great I AM, love, the Beginning and the End, the Eternal One, Righteous One, Lord God Almighty; and what You do: Creator, Sustainer, Savior, Redeemer, Rock, Fortress, Teacher, Protector, Provider, Comforter, Counselor, Friend.
Your kingdom come,
May the way that You exercise rule and authority over all the universe, time and eternity be realized in this temporal, physical life that we experience now. Help us to become aware of that rule, and realize that we will see in more in its fullness when we are finally at home in heaven with You.
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
We pray that as Your will is a reality and is the natural response in every way in heaven, may it be just that way here on earth as well. That the worship we offer here, would be as the worship we will offer there; that the thoughts, words, and actions we have here will be the thoughts and words we will have there; that our understanding of You and Your will and ways would be as it will be in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
We recognize that You, God are our Provider, Protector for our every need, and that those needs are constantly with us. Each day, we go to You for the food to nourish our bodies, for the provision of shelter and clothing, for the reassurance of Your presence and approval. May we not seek those things outside of Your hand, lest we accept less than what You would desire and what we truly need.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
You are the only One that can forgive our sins; we are absolutely helpless to do so on our own. The price of that forgiveness came at the cost of the life of Your, Son, Jesus. We seek forgiveness in no other person. In the way that you freely forgive our sins, help us to forgive those who sin against us – To release to You those who offend us and to trust You to carry out justice, as the Just and Upright One. Help us to remember that no one could ever do to us what we have done that brought about the death of Christ; Help us to forgive as you have forgiven us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
While we live in this earthly tent, we know we cannot escape living among those desires and attractions that would lure us away from Your perfect will and plan. Help us to not succumb to shortcuts, and the easy way out, but patiently accept the disciplines of the formation of the character of Christ You are building into our lives. Set our eyes and thoughts on “those things which are above;” help us to choose to avoid those things that trip us, and those “sins that so easily entangle.” Help us to be able to hear Your voice of warning; speak loudly so that we cannot mistake that it is Your voice that we are hearing. Provide that “way of escape that we might be able to bear it.”
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever, Amen.
For Yours alone, O God, is that authority to rule over all, the power to rule over all and the glory due for ruling over all as Lord God Almighty throughout eternity. So be it; so it really is.
