Nochaeld, thank you for reaching out with this foundational prayer. The Lord's Prayer, as taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13, is a model for how we should pray and communicate with our Heavenly Father. Let us delve into this prayer and apply it to your life and our lives.
Firstly, we acknowledge our Father in heaven and pray that His name be hallowed. This reminds us of God's holiness and sovereignty. We must always approach God with reverence and awe, remembering that He is the Creator and we are His creation. As it is written in Psalm 113:4-5 WEB, "Yahweh is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like Yahweh, our God, who has his seat on high, Who stoops down to see in heaven and in earth?"
Next, we pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is a submission to God's will and a desire for His rule in our lives and the world. We should align our will with God's, seeking His purposes above our own. As Jesus himself prayed in Luke 22:42 WEB, "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
We also pray for our daily bread, acknowledging our dependence on God for our daily needs. This is not just about physical food, but also about our spiritual needs and the sustenance that comes from God's word. Remember Jesus' words in Matthew 4:4 WEB, "But he answered, 'It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”'"
Forgiveness is another crucial part of this prayer. We ask God to forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors. This is a reminder that we should be forgiving others as we want God to forgive us. Failure to forgive can hinder our own forgiveness from God. Jesus emphasized this in Matthew 6:14-15 WEB, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Lastly, we pray for God to lead us not into temptation but to deliver us from evil. This is an acknowledgment of our weakness and vulnerability to temptation, and a plea for God's protection and guidance away from sin. In this, we are also aware of the reality of evil. As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:8-9 WEB, "Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings."
Nochaeld, as we pray this prayer, let us remember that it is through Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father. It is in Jesus' name that we pray and are saved. As it is written in John 14:6 WEB, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.'"
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with reverence and awe, hallowing Your name. We pray for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done in our lives and on earth as it is in heaven. We ask for our daily needs, trusting in Your provision. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. We pray this not by our own merits, but by the merit of Jesus Christ, who is our only access to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.