Habits of Jesus Day 1: The Lord’s Prayer

The disciples noticed that Jesus prayed when He was alone. They asked Him how they could make His habit their own.

The Lord’s Prayer. Jesus said, pray this way: “Our Father, who is in heaven, holy be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors. Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil.” *For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6: 9-13

He helps us pray! He has given us these words to say, because He loves to hear our voice! Call out in anguish, call out in joy or call out with a question, it doesn’t matter. He will answer you. The more we speak to God, the more confident we will be to speak His words of life to others. The more free we are with our heart and our spirit in prayer, the harder it will be to hold those words back from others. They will just tumble out!

We most often pray the Lord’s Prayer as it is written in Matthew. Today, let’s fill in the blanks and pray it more descriptively and expansively. Ask Him to prompt you (if you need more room, copy it into your journal):

My ____________ Father (choose your own descriptive word, i.e., loving),

Who is in heaven and __________________________ (i.e., in my heart).

Holy and ______________________________________ is Your name (descriptive word that touches you today).

May Your kingdom come to __________________________________ (specify where you need Him).

May Your will be done on earth and ________________ as it is in heaven (where you need to see His will).

Give me today Your daily bread and Your ________________________ (what you need from Him).

Forgive my sin of ___________________________________________ (a recent sin you haven’t asked forgiveness for yet).

Help me to forgive _________________________________________ (who you need to forgive).

Keep me from the temptation of ___________________________ (a temptation that keeps cropping up).

Deliver me from the evil of ___________________________________ (some evil you need to deny or avoid).

*Let’s also add the following doxology (praise), found in later documents, like the early Christians did:

Yours is the kingdom of ____________________________________ (describe His kingdom, ie, love).

The power of ____________________________________________ (what you need His power for).

The glory of _____________________________________________ (where you need to acknowledge His glory).

Now as I ________________________________________________ (what you will do differently).

And forever as You always ________________________________________ (what means the most to you right now, ie, listen).

Amen.

One of the most well-remembered phrases from this prayer is “keep me from temptation.” This saying resonates with non-religious, pre-Christians, casual Christians, mature Christians and devout Christians alike! Temptation is a universal issue. So, as you are freed from temptation through the power of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:13), remember that your neighbor, your friend or your family member may not have the same resource to forgo the temptation they are trying to face down. Almost everyone has memorized this prayer, pray it together. And add a little explanation of this well-known prayer to draw them closer to His light!  

Heavenly Father, You are my inexhaustible source of nourishment and life. I rely on Your power to fight the temptation of _____. You do it for me, You can do it for others! Amen.