The Lord's Prayer
This guide uses the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13 as a template for your prayer. Jesus gave us this to shape our prayers and to shape our hearts.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Take a moment to thank God for being your Father and ask him to glorify his name in your life today.
Example:
"Father, we thank you for the privilege of being your children and addressing you as father. We know this is only possible through faith in your Son Jesus Christ and his finished work on our behalf. We ask now as your children that your name would be set apart as holy both in our lives and in this world. We ask that you would receive the honor, respect, and glory that you alone deserve."
Example:
"Father, we thank you for the privilege of being your children and addressing you as father. We know this is only possible through faith in your Son Jesus Christ and his finished work on our behalf. We ask now as your children that your name would be set apart as holy both in our lives and in this world. We ask that you would receive the honor, respect, and glory that you alone deserve."
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Ask for God’s kingdom to advance in our hearts, in our homes, among our neighbors, and among the nations. This is a good opportunity to lift up those in your life who don’t know Jesus.
Example:
“Lord, we ask that your kingdom, your rule and reign, would break through in our hearts and all across the world. We know that your ultimate purposes will never be thwarted, but as we look around, we see your revealed will being broken every day. So we ask that your will be obeyed in our lives, among our neighbors, and in the nations, as it is in heaven. As we look forward to the ultimate fulfillment of this request on the New Earth, we ask that you continue pushing back the darkness and advancing your gospel.”
Example:
“Lord, we ask that your kingdom, your rule and reign, would break through in our hearts and all across the world. We know that your ultimate purposes will never be thwarted, but as we look around, we see your revealed will being broken every day. So we ask that your will be obeyed in our lives, among our neighbors, and in the nations, as it is in heaven. As we look forward to the ultimate fulfillment of this request on the New Earth, we ask that you continue pushing back the darkness and advancing your gospel.”
Give us this day our daily bread,
Take time to bring your needs before your Father. Bring your burdens, fears, anxieties, desires, and requests knowing that without him, we can do nothing.
Example:
"Father, we are weak and needy with so many requests. We ask that you would provide the physical and spiritual bread we need to make Jesus known today." (then continue to ask for your needs).
Example:
"Father, we are weak and needy with so many requests. We ask that you would provide the physical and spiritual bread we need to make Jesus known today." (then continue to ask for your needs).
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Ask the Lord to search you and reveal any sin in your life that you need to turn from (thoughts, desires, words, actions), as well as anyone you need to forgive.
Example:
"Lord, our hearts are deceitful. We are so prone to wander, and we are full of sin. We thank you for the forgiveness and cleansing that comes from the sacrifice of your Son and the shedding of his precious blood. We ask that you would forgive us and give us the grace to forgive others. We have sinned and it is only by your mercy that we are not consumed. Please forgive us, cleanse us, and restore us to joyful fellowship with you."
Example:
"Lord, our hearts are deceitful. We are so prone to wander, and we are full of sin. We thank you for the forgiveness and cleansing that comes from the sacrifice of your Son and the shedding of his precious blood. We ask that you would forgive us and give us the grace to forgive others. We have sinned and it is only by your mercy that we are not consumed. Please forgive us, cleanse us, and restore us to joyful fellowship with you."
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Ask God to protect you and those you love from temptations that would come from the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Example:
"Father, we ask that you would keep us from situations and circumstances that would make us vulnerable to the deceitfulness of sin. Give us the grace to put our sin to death and protect us from evil and the evil one."
Example:
"Father, we ask that you would keep us from situations and circumstances that would make us vulnerable to the deceitfulness of sin. Give us the grace to put our sin to death and protect us from evil and the evil one."