A Disciple’s Prayer
Luke tells us that Jesus’ life of prayer provoked his disciples to seek his instruction (Luke 11:1) as to how they should pray. His response is then recorded for us and is also given to us by Matthew within the context of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13). Each of these has minor differences and neither of them fully match what most of us have come to know traditionally as The Lord’s Prayer. Even our church traditions have their variations – depending on your background, you may have been raised praying for forgiveness either for your “debts” or perhaps for your “trespasses”. And it’s worth noting that what Jesus gave his disciples was a pattern for praying – not a prayer.
Quite a few have undertaken to study and publish valuable articles and books on The Lord’s Prayer through the centuries. Impetus for my own study here has been more a matter of building out the pattern given by Jesus into a prayer with personal and substantive meaning for me. How better to approach this than to expand upon the Word with the Word Itself. The result that follows has evolved over the years through continued study and use.
Abba – our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name.
Holy, Holy, Holy – Lord God Almighty!
The earth and heavens are filled with Your glory!
Your eternal Kingdom come;
Your righteous will be done – on earth, in us, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread – the very Bread of Heaven, manna for our souls from Your Word.
And forgive us our sins, debts, and offenses as we forgive those who sin against, offend, or are indebted to us.
Pray for us, Lord Jesus – let us not enter into temptation, but rescue and deliver us from all evil.
For Yours is the Kingdom we seek;
Yours is the power by which we are saved and transformed and by which we overcome; and,
Yours alone is the glory...
Now and forever – unto the ages of ages! Amen!
The following Scriptures are provided in the order referenced within the prayer above.
Romans 8:15; Deuteronomy 5:11; Luke 1:49; Revelation 4:8; Psalm 72:19; Acts 7:55; 2 Peter 1:11; Matthew 6:33; John 1:1, 6:48-51; Matthew 4:4; Matthew 6:12, 14; Luke 11:4; Luke 22:31-32, 40, 46; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Exodus 18:10; 2 Samuel 22:28; 2 Kings 17:39; Psalm 4:1; Romans 7:24; Galatians; 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 4:18; Mark 13:26; Luke 9:1; John 1:5, 16:33; Romans 11:36, 12:21; 1 Corinthians 6:14; Isaiah 42:8; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Daniel 2:37; 2 Peter 1:3; Revelation 4:11; 1 Timothy 1:17