Pray After Me
Want to Stay Active in Prayer? Follow Jesus' Lead
By Jess Adducci
The season of Summer is a time to refresh, rejuvenate, and have fun. We let loose, go on vacations, and make a point to put some emphasis on life and the joys of freedom, friends, and family. But we often leave spiritual “disciplines” on the roadside on the way to some time off. It’s Summer—it’s a vacation! Who wants to be disciplined in prayer? Who wants to deal with the effort of figuring out what to say to God in praise, confession, repentance, and asking for the things we need?
That might not be all that prayer is, but it can sure feel that way when we step outside the church walls and travel beyond our usual Christian social circles for the Summer. Summer is goofy and glorious. But prayer can seem so serious and humbling. Especially the Lord’s Prayer.
Centuries of Christian tradition have marked the Lord’s Prayer as being particularly reverent, penitent, solemn, and perhaps even holier than other prayers. But when we encounter this prayer in Scripture, Jesus is right in the middle of warning the disciples against forms of hypocrisy and empty ritualism when praying. Then Jesus generously provides them with a powerful example of what prayer should really look like.
Right now, I’m in the middle of teaching my son how to speak and form sentences, and I have to distill each sentence into nouns and verbs. Just two or three words packed with meaning. “More milk, please,” is the difference between unmet thirst and a cup full of the good stuff. The Lord’s Prayer is like that for us. Concise. Simple. But packed with goodness that can breathe life into a wandering or non-existent prayer life. Jesus’ prayer is a model for all of us to use. So, let’s use it!
PRAYING LINE BY LINE
To keep it simple, we’ll stick with Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV), though, you might also want to check out Luke 11, where the Lord’s Prayer is repeated. Don’t miss the beginning of verse 9: "This, then, is how you should pray...” There’s no discussion about whether to pray or not. It’s assumed that followers of Christ are people who pray.
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...” (v. 9) Notice how it starts: Our Father. That one word—our—implies an awareness of our brothers and sisters. Right away, we start with community, a kinship, and a bond that reinforces the unity and love that is so often stressed by Jesus Himself. We’re immediately to be of the mind that we are not alone in this prayer and in relationship to our Father.
In what follows—God’s place in heaven and the holiness of His name—Jesus emphasizes how perfect and different God is. While Jesus became absolutely human in His incarnation without setting aside His divinity, God the Father does not share our humanity. The Being we pray to, the transcendent presence we experience and speak with, is beyond imagination in all His qualities. And we must recognize that as we head into prayer.
Too serious? The next line lightens our load.
"...your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (v. 10) If you believe what the Bible says about the character of God— how faithful, just, loving, gracious, and merciful He is—this line brings with it a smile and sigh of relief. We are not alone in the battles of life! When we pray these words, we’re asking for blessings on our life and on the world around us. You know those family members you don’t get along with on those obligatory vacations? God is there, and He can enter into their lives and your relationship with them. And the friends struggling through sickness or divorce, or who just need a break? You’re praying God’s presence and authority into those situations.
God is good! And His Kingdom and will are nothing but good.
"Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (vv. 11-12) It’s here that I hesitate when praying this prayer. If I’m honest, I don’t want just my daily bread. I want a feast! Especially when I’m out in the world or on vacation. I want luxury. And following that request with asking God to forgive me as I forgive others—well, this prayer just got very real. But like praying God’s will to be done on earth, these lines can and should bring relief. His provision and mercies are new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23). We ask for provision and forgiveness while being reminded to forgive others. Every word here is meant to nourish and heal our hearts.
"And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” (v. 13) What a great place to wrap up, especially in light of our Summer months. When we venture away from the walls of our church and the comforts of Christian friends, we are bombarded by the enemy. Boldly ask for deliverance.
TAKE IT WITH YOU
Each line, each word in this prayer drips with emphasis. Use it. Here’s a challenge: repeat the Lord’s Prayer every day in the Summer months and reflect on what you’re saying. Leave your pride at the door and hunker down in front of God. Revel in His glory and authority. Pray for peace in your own life and the lives of those around you as you strike out on new adventures.
Don’t be embarrassed if your current prayer life is lacking. Repeat after Jesus and follow Him into richer faith. This Summer, without so many structured studies and life burdens crying for our attention, we have the opportunity in the Lord’s Prayer to turn our eyes to heaven and enjoy the glories of prayer again.