A FRESH WAY TO PRAY THE LORD'S PRAYER

In times of crises—such a job loss, feeling lonely, or experiencing a major health crisis—you may turn away from God, or lean hard into Him. Job loss, loneliness, isolation, and fear of death are all stressful and scary. You question your security and significance. “How will I pay the bills? Do I still have what it takes? Where is God in all this?”

Let’s turn to the Lord’s Prayer as a model prayer, one that will draw you closer to God’s heart and help comfort and guide you…

Jesus said it like this in Matthew 6:9-13:

“This, then, is how you should pray:

‘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.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”

1. Turn FEAR into a Prayer of Worship:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus first turns His followers’ eyes to worship, as we exalt Father God for who He is and what He has done. He is Almighty God, Sovereign Lord, King of all creation.

He is the one who loved you so much He sent His only Son to live among us and die on the cross for us. All who have confessed, repented, and trusted in Christ and Christ alone are members of His family, the body of Christ. We are His children, and He is our Father. Praise God!

Prayer Prompts:

  • Thank God for who He is, what He does and is doing, and what He will do.

  • Tell God how grateful you are for His work in your life. 

Read John 1:14; John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8

2. Turn ANXIETY into a Prayer for God’s Will:

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

God’s kingdom is the realm of His rule. His rule in heaven is perfect and pervasive, and we pray that it will become so in our sin-affected society as well. We pray that the realm of His rule is pervasive in our own lives, then through us and around us, and then beyond us.

Since God is sovereign over all creation, He is sovereign over this situation as well. Remember, this is His commitment to you: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). God knows the path you have been on and He has “good works” yet for you to do.

Praying “Your kingdom come your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” reflects just how much you trust God to sovereignly work in and through you for His glory and your good.

Prayer Prompts:

  • Confess any times you’ve “tried it on your own,” trusting in your own efforts rather than in His sovereign plan.

  • Invite the “realm of His rule” to permeate your life at the heart level, right down to your thoughts and motives.

  • Ask God to reveal His will for you today, telling Him you are committed to His will and way. You’ve tried it on your own; you’re committed to letting “Jesus take the wheel.”

Read Proverbs 3:5,6; Isaiah 55:8,9; Matthew 5:3-12

*Bible Study from the YouVersion Bible reading plan, “Suddenly Unemployed: A Fresh Way to Pray the Lord’s Prayer” by Dean Ridings for The Navigators.

Amy Ogle