The Lord’s Prayer: worshipping, seeking, and thankful hearts
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come” (Luke 11:1).
The Lord gives us what has become known as the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11:2-4 and Matthew 6:9-13. It begins with worship: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name” (Luke 11:1). In these opening words, we have God’s person, God’s home, and God’s name brought before us. The prayer teaches us that we have a relationship with God as our Father. It is a relationship of nearness, but there is also a sense of God’s greatness and holiness. We should never take God for granted or cease to be reverent in His presence.
There is also an understanding of where God is – in heaven. Prayer is a powerful link between earth and heaven. Even in today’s world, with its bewildering range of technology, sometimes communications break down. Mobile phones are not always answered. The Internet can lose its connection. But we never lose our connection with God. He is always there to listen and respond to our prayers:
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers” (1 Peter 3:12).
The Lord’s Prayer expresses a desire for God’s kingdom to come. At the Lord’s Supper, we remember His death in the light of His return. We can also pray for our present needs, being mindful of Christ’s return and the fulfilment of all God’s purposes in this world and in eternity. God will be glorified in the future, and it is our desire that He should be glorified in our lives now.
The Lord’s Prayer then turns to God’s will: “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This is a vital part of the Lord’s Prayer. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed for the Father’s will to be done. The will of God is central to our prayers. We don’t pray for our will to be fulfilled, but to know, and seek to do, God’s will in our lives. At a personal level, much of God’s will is simple to understand. The attributes of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 and those of the love of God in 1 Corinthians 13 are the features God wants to see in us. We need grace to manifest these things. Other aspects of God’s will, for example who we marry or which career we take up, need to be brought to the throne of grace for wise decisions to be made. And we should pray for others to know the mind and will of God.
The Lord Jesus ’s prayer then turns to our daily needs. We recognise all our blessings come from the heart and hand of God (James 1:17). This makes us a thankful people. There was once a Christian farmer who was invited to an important banquet. Alongside him were some well-educated but rude guests. At the beginning of the banquet, the farmer bowed his head and gave thanks for the meal. One of the guests scornfully asked the farmer if everyone down on the farm gave thanks for their food. “No,” replied the farmer, “the animals never give thanks!” Paul reminded the Colossians, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15). Our prayers should always express thankfulness. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
