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[Note: This was originally a "group exercise" for people at the Xiamen International Fellowship. At the bottom you'll find "work sheets" that you can use with a group.] Click here for another XICF resource. Article index.

The Lord's Prayer--learning how to pray

      One would think that everyone knows how to pray, but this just isn't true. The more I hear and read on the subject, the more I believe that most of us struggle with this discipline, which seemed as natural to Jesus as eating or drinking. For Him, it seems to be the chance to communicate with His Father, and thus was as pleasant as a Skype conversation with my own Dad or my grown son.

      Today we'll look at the "model prayer" that Jesus taught his disciples. In doing so, maybe we can take some of the mystery out of prayer, and infuse new life into a prayer that many of us can say from memory without even thinking about the pattern and truths it reveals.

      Let's start with a simple summary of the main ideas in "The Lord's Prayer", and then we'll look at each in more detail.

      A model prayer could proceed like this:
1. praise to your holy Father
2. prayer for God’s priorities in your world
3. prayer for your daily needs
4. prayer for forgiveness (and strength to forgive others)
5. prayer for guidance, and help against the unseen enemy
6. praise and thanksgiving
7. in Jesus’ authority (and according to His will), Amen
 

Here is the NIV translation of the prayer Jesus taught His disciples:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹Give us today our daily bread. ¹²Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, (for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.) Matt 6:9-13 (NIV)

      Now let's look at it phrase by phrase. [I've left the red words here to make it easier to do this the "group way" shown at the bottom of the page.]

“Our”—Prayer is about relationship, with God and also with our brothers and sisters. We either live in relationships with fellow Christians, or we are not living the way God wants us to live.

“Father”—No other religion teaches followers to call God “Father.” We are not praying to an idol, a dead relative or saint, or an impersonal supernatural being. We are praying to our Heavenly Father, who loves us like children who should never fear when asking for help. He has commanded us to boldly come to Him, expecting to be heard.

“in heaven”—God, like heaven, is not limited in any dimension. But this phrase reminds us that God is especially not limited by the things that limit us in our world.

In what ways are we limited?

      God is not limited by time and has unlimited resources (we can pray for anything—even far into the future—and for any amount of our time without taking anything from God’s resources, and five billion people can pray at the same time and all be heard with the same level of attention, love and concern). God is not limited by human or supernatural powers (e.g., bosses, governments, angels and demons). God hears us “from Heaven” where He reigns as the unchallenged “king of kings.”

“hallowed be Your name”—After addressing our prayer to our Father, we turn to praise God’s name, i.e., God’s character. God is Holy, and we think that every person and every power should “hallow” Him (recognize Him as Holy). Our praise is like a child proudly bragging about how important his dad is. Praise also has supernatural power that can’t be clearly explained or understood. Praise is glorious, and we were created, in part, to worship God. What a privilege!

 “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”—Before we bring our own needs to our Father, Pastor Larry Lea says to “Declare that His kingdom priorities (Rom. 14:17) shall be established in yourself, your loved ones, your church, and your nation.” Furthermore, God’s will is done instantly and without question in heaven, and that “perfect obedience” is also His goal for earth. When we pray this prayer, it also opens our hearts to hear Him lead us, showing us how to “bring His kingdom and His will” to our corner of His world (i.e., my family, my school, my job, my community, my nation).

“Give us this day our daily bread”—Now that we’d focused first on God and His priorities, we turn to our own needs. Again notice that we use the plural tense. Our needs include personal needs (related to “my” studies, job, etc), but we should also lift up group needs—the needs of “our” classmates, workmates, family members, and neighbors. Furthermore, note that we are asking for “daily needs” not “wants”.

What is the difference between needs and wants? (e.g., cheap gym shoes vs $200 shoes named after a famous basketball star)

      Remember that God has promised to provide what you need, not everything you think you want. A loving father knows when his child’s “want” could really hurt the child, and in this situation, NOT giving it is actually the loving thing to do. The key to answered prayer is to pray for the things God has told you to pray about. So, take note of the many prayers and promises in the Bible, which can teach you to pray.

Read James 4:3 (What do you think of this verse?)

“Or when you pray, you do not receive because the reason you ask is wrong. You want things so you can use them for your own pleasures.”

      Also notice: “Give us today our daily bread.” Our loving Father wants a relationship with us every day, not once a week or a few times each year. Yes, prayer puts your future in His hands too, but your great confidence is that God will answer your prayers for “daily bread.”

(continued from other column)

 “Forgive us our debts”—Forgiveness is life’s greatest prize. Without forgiveness, sinful people cannot have a relationship with a Holy God, but (amazingly) God has promised to forgive whoever asks Him! After King David had sinned by sleeping with another man’s wife, and then getting that man killed, he prayed: “Against You alone have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4). Therefore, we see that even sins committed against other people are really committed against God—the only one who can really forgive us. Because we keep failing, we feel unworthy to keep asking for forgiveness, but remember that this is a daily prayer! Your loving Father knows you cannot be “perfect” on this earth; that is why Jesus went to the cross. It’s amazing, but God loves you that much, so live in thankfulness for the cross and for His unending love.

Read Jesus’ parable (story with a moral/ethical point) in Matthew 18:21-35. What is the point?

“as we also have forgiven our debtors.”—Forgive others. This is simple to understand but difficult to do. God has forgiven all of your sin, and He expects you to forgive every time others “miss the mark” and act in a less-than-perfect way. We can see that this is a serious command, because Jesus repeats it with a strong emphasis in Matt 6:14.

“And lead us…”—ask for guidance. You can’t expect God to guide your life if you are unwilling to go and do what he asks. But if you make Him “Lord” (boss) of your life, and ask for guidance, God will direct you to the place where your life can make a difference.

 “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”—Whether we like it or not, we are soldiers in an invisible war, and we need help from someone who is “above” the battlefield.

Read Ephesians 6:10-18, then discuss this: In an ancient battle, how would it be helpful if the general were watching from a nearby mountain?

“¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the spiritual power of the devil. ¹²For we do not wrestle (fight) against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God…”

The general sees that some enemy soldiers are hiding behind some trees, so quickly he sends a note telling his army not to go that way (until they are strong enough to defeat the enemy there).

Remember that your “enemy” is unseen (to you). It is never your roommate, your boss, or your government. Your unseen enemy is fighting God’s authority (and angels); so don’t get mad at the person who is causing you trouble, cry out to God to be delivered from these evil powers. And ask Him to lead you in the path He has chosen for you, and not into situations where you will be tempted to disobey your King. Again quoting Larry Lea: “Pray a hedge of protection [around] yourself and your loved ones (Job 1:9, 10; Ps. 91), and verbally put on the armor of God (Eph. 6:14-18).”

Tell your partner some of the things you are thankful for.

“for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”—end with praise and thanksgiving. Thank God for allowing us to share in His eternal kingdom, power and glory. Thank Him for making you his child. Thank Him for answering your prayers (and be specific!). When you don’t feel like praising God, start thanking Him, and you should find your attitude changing. Both praise and thanksgiving are tools or weapons in the unseen war, so use them! God doesn’t need our praise—a world of angels worships Him—but He deserves it. Prayer doesn’t change God, it changes us. He saved us and revealed Himself to us, and now it is our duty and delight to give him glory/praise.

Pastor Matthew Henry says, “Praise is the work and happiness of heaven (see Ps. 71:14); and [everyone who] would go to heaven hereafter, must begin their heaven now. Observe, how full this doxology [i.e., prayerful ending] is, ‘The kingdom, and the power, and the glory, it is all Yours.’” So we have a lot to be thankful for, and to be thankful for forever!

If you want to make this more interactive, give group members copies of the following script, and let them fill in the blanks as you present this material. Don't forget to pause for discussion questions, and for additional comments.

“Our”—Prayer is about ______________________________, with God and also with our ________________________________________________________. We either live in relationships with fellow Christians, or we are not ______________________________ God wants us to live.

“Father”—No other religion teaches followers to call God “_______________________.” We are not praying to an _______________, a dead relative or saint, or an impersonal supernatural being. We are ________________________to our Heavenly Father, who ____________ us like children who should never ______________ when asking for help. He has commanded us to boldly come to Him, _______________________ to be heard.

“in heaven”—God, like heaven, is not __________________________ in any dimension. But this phrase reminds us that God is especially not limited by the things that limit us in our ______________________________.

In what ways are we limited?

      God is not limited by _______________ and has unlimited ________________________ (we can pray for anything—even far into the __________________—and for any amount of our time without taking anything from God’s _________________________, and five billion people can pray at the same time and all be heard with the same level of attention, ________________________ and concern). God is not limited by human or supernatural _______________________ (e.g., bosses, governments, angels and demons). God hears us “from Heaven” where He reigns as the unchallenged “_________________ of kings.”

“hallowed be Your name”—After addressing our prayer to our Father, we turn to _________ God’s name, i.e., God’s character. God is ____________, and we think that every person and every power should “hallow” Him (recognize Him as Holy). Our praise is like a child proudly bragging about how _____________________ his dad is. Praise also has super-natural ______________ that can’t be clearly explained or understood. Praise is glorious, and we were created, in part, to ______________________________. What a privilege!

 “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”—Before we bring our own needs to our Father, Pastor Larry Lea says to “Declare that His kingdom _____________________ (Rom. 14:17) shall be established in ____________________, your ______________________________, your _______________________, and your __________________.” Furthermore, God’s will is done instantly and without question in heaven, and that “perfect obedience” is also His goal for earth. When we pray this ___________________, it also opens our hearts to hear Him _______________________, showing us how to “bring His kingdom and His will” to our corner of ________________ (i.e., my family, my school, my job, my community, my nation).

“Give us this day our daily bread”—Now that we’d focused ___________________ on God and His priorities, we turn to our own _________________. Again notice that we use the plural tense. Our needs include ______________________ needs (related to “my” studies, job, etc), but we should also lift up ____________________ needs—the needs of “our” classmates, workmates, family members, and neighbors. Furthermore, note that we are asking for “daily needs” not “_____________________”.

What is the difference between needs and wants?

      Remember that God has promised to _________________________ what you need, not everything you think you want. A loving ___________________ knows when his child’s “want” could really _________________ the child, and in this situation, NOT giving it is actually the _____________________ thing to do. The key to answered prayer is to pray for the things God has told you to pray about. So, take note of the many ______________ and _____________________ in the Bible, which can teach you to pray.

Read James 4:3 (What do you think of this verse?)

      Also notice: “Give us _____________________ our __________________ bread.” Our loving Father wants a _____________________ with us every day, not once a _________ or a few times each year. Yes, prayer puts your ________________ in His hands too, but your great confidence is that God will ________________ your prayers for “daily bread.”

 “Forgive us our debts”—Forgiveness is life’s greatest prize. Without forgiveness, sinful people cannot have a _____________________ with a Holy God, but (amazingly) God has promised to forgive whoever ____________ Him! After King David had sinned by sleeping with another man’s wife, and then getting that man killed, he prayed: “Against You ______________ have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4). Therefore, we see that even _______ committed against other people are really committed against ______________—the only one who can really forgive us. Because we keep failing, we feel ___________________ to keep asking for forgiveness, but remember that this is a ___________________ prayer! Your loving Father knows you cannot be “_____________________” on this earth; that is why Jesus went to the cross. It’s amazing, but God _________________ you that much, so live in _____________________ for the cross and for His unending love.

Read Jesus’ parable (story with a moral point) in Matthew 18:21-35. What is the point?  

“as we also have forgiven our debtors.”—Forgive others. This is _____________________ to understand but difficult to do. God has forgiven _______________ of your sin, and He expects you to forgive every time others “miss the _____________________” and act in a less-than-perfect way. We can see that this is a serious command, because Jesus repeats it with a strong emphasis in Matt 6:14.

“And lead us…”—ask for guidance. You can’t expect God to _____________________ your life if you are unwilling to _____________ and _____________ what he asks. But if you make Him “________________” (boss) of your life, and ask for guidance, God will direct you to the place where your life can make a _____________________.

 “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”—Whether we like it or not, we are soldiers in an invisible ________________, and we need _____________________ from someone who is “above” the battlefield.

Read Ephesians 6:10-18, then discuss this: In an ancient battle, how would it be helpful if the general were watching from a nearby mountain?

Remember that your “enemy” is unseen (to you). It is never your _____________________, your ________________, or your _____________________. Your unseen enemy is fighting God’s authority (and angels); so don’t get mad at the _____________________ who is causing you trouble, cry out to God to be delivered from these evil powers. And ask Him to _______________ you in the path He has chosen for you, and not into situations where you will be _____________________ to disobey your King. Again quoting Larry Lea: “Pray a hedge of protection [around] yourself and your loved ones (Job 1:9, 10; Ps. 91), and verbally put on the _______________ of God (Eph. 6:14-18).”

Tell your partner some of the things you are thankful for.

“for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”—end with praise and thanksgiving. __________________ God for allowing us to share in His eternal kingdom, power and glory. Thank Him for making you his ___________________. Thank Him for answering your prayers (and be _____________________!). When you don’t feel like praising God, start thanking Him, and you should find your _____________________ changing. Both praise and thanksgiving are tools or _____________________ in the unseen war, so use them! God doesn’t need our praise—a world of _________________ worships Him—but He deserves it. Prayer doesn’t change God, it __________________ us. He saved us and _____________________ Himself to us, and now it is our duty and delight to give him _____________________/praise.

“Amen”—so be it, or “let it be as I have _____________________.” Ending our prayer with “…in Jesus’ name, Amen” is an old tradition, and a good one. It reminds us that we are praying in the “name” or _____________________ of Jesus. Jesus gave us the authority to use His name, _____________________. (Read John 14:8-14.) To pray “in His name” means to be praying according to His _______________. This reminds us that we should primarily be praying for the things Jesus wants us to pray about—“things that help His kingdom come and His will to be done on earth,” not ____________________________. And by ending with “________________ (let it be so)” we are affirming our faith that God has heard us, and will use His Fatherly _____________________ and Godly __________________ to answer our prayers, in order to accomplish His _____________.

© 2012 Michael Krigline. As far as I am concerned, people are allowed to print or copy this article, or link to it, for personal or classroom use.

 (see Website Standards and Use Policy)

Scriptures quoted on this website are primarily from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982; also on line at www.biblegateway.com

For more information about Christianity, check out www.ccci.org/whoisjesus/interactive-journey

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