Matthew 6:9-13 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
When asked to pray, you can always pray as Jesus taught us with these words. There is nothing shameful in using this prayer. If all our prayers followed this pattern, then we will be in good shape, even when words are hard to find.
Our prayers are to bring glory to God. In our words and deeds both at church and in the world we are to praise and glorify Him. The holiness of God's name is understood in terms of God's will, work and existence; not merely uttering His name. Our hearts are to be ever mindful of His presence in our lives. We are to pray for His Kingdom to be extended throughout the world as it now is in heaven. His kingdom is the righteous reign over the lives and hearts of his people. The Kingdom also refers to the second coming of Christ when His kingdom shall be on the earth. We should pray that God's will be achieved and advanced to its fullest level on earth as it now is fully achieved in heaven.
After glorifying God, the praying Christian turns to his own need. We pray first that God's interest in and provision for us be granted when we pray for "our daily bread". God, our Sustainer, maintains our spiritual and material lives daily.
