This week’s prayer is probably our most familiar prayer, but I’m going to ask you to pray it differently than normal. The Lord’s Prayer, which we pray every Sunday in unison, is the example Jesus gave his disciples when they asked, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1).
Here’s what we’ll do today: I want us to pray this extremely…slowly…and…deliberately. Take your time (don’t rush through it because you have it memorized). Pray it aloud or in your mind with conviction (not with the monotonous tone we do together on Sundays). Take deep breathes between lines. Think about each word. Allow the prayer to penetrate your own life, and if a line reminds you to make a specific prayer, go to that place and return to the Lord’s Prayer later. Cool? Here we go:
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us
our debts,
as we forgive
our debtors;
and lead us
not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is
the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
forever.
Amen.
Pastor Drew's Desk 