Should we pray the EXACT Lord's Prayer?
Question
My pastor states that we should pray the EXACT words of the Lord's Prayer, every time we pray. Why?
Answer
First, the Lord's Prayer is called such NOT because it is a prayer that Jesus NEEDED to pray (He never sinned), but because it was one He taught to His disciples and thus His church to pray. It may also be called: "The Disciple's Prayer," "The Church's Prayer," or ‘The Kingdom Prayer," etc.
Second, note Jesus' words. While it is proper to prayer the exact prayer as Jesus taught His disciples as a form of meditation, it is also correct to pray "in this manner" (Matt. 6:9). In other words, the EXACT words do not need to be prayed. Jesus DID NOT give His church a Betty Cocker chocolate cake formula for prayer — an exact measure of this and another part that — but rather a model for prayer. It is not just a set of ingredients to be baked up and served to God — here's the chocolate one God. Rather, it is a model for several types of cakes (prayers).
As a model for prayer, Jesus mentions many things, including, but not limited to: (1) our Father's sovereignty, power, glory, and will, (2) the "now but not yet" of His coming Kingdom, (3) meeting His children's needs, (4) forgiveness, (5) temptation and deliverance from evil, (6) His children's conduct, etc. Therefore, as a model for prayer these truths should be ingrained upon our hearts and confirmed by our lips. However, at times one area of this model may be emphasized more than another. For instance, I may spend 10 minutes in extolling God for His excellently, but spend the next 30 minutes asking Him to assist me in dealing with a problem I am having with forgiving someone else, etc. In other words, prayer is also somewhat of an individual recipe and it is not always chocolate! While it should always make a complete cake, the amount of ingredients may vary.
The Lord's Prayer is not just a quick set of preset words that we say and spray, but rather a meditation of the heart bended toward our Father. It is a discussion. It is part of a relationship — an Abba relationship. I think Adam might say, ‘like a walk in the Garden with God BEFORE …' (God IS REALLY there, He is REALLY listening, He is REALLY concerned). One is not just too merely say verses (Pharisees did this), but let the verses "say us" — i.e. reveal our hearts. Be REAL with God, so He may be REAL with you!
So, at times the Lord's Prayer may be a rather short prayer and at other times it will be rather long. I tend to find myself still at the rather long side of prayer. What about you?
Answer by: Joseph R. Nally, Theological Editor, on behalf of the staff at IIIM. The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily the "official position" of Third Millennium Ministries.
Second, note Jesus' words. While it is proper to prayer the exact prayer as Jesus taught His disciples as a form of meditation, it is also correct to pray "in this manner" (Matt. 6:9). In other words, the EXACT words do not need to be prayed. Jesus DID NOT give His church a Betty Cocker chocolate cake formula for prayer — an exact measure of this and another part that — but rather a model for prayer. It is not just a set of ingredients to be baked up and served to God — here's the chocolate one God. Rather, it is a model for several types of cakes (prayers).
As a model for prayer, Jesus mentions many things, including, but not limited to: (1) our Father's sovereignty, power, glory, and will, (2) the "now but not yet" of His coming Kingdom, (3) meeting His children's needs, (4) forgiveness, (5) temptation and deliverance from evil, (6) His children's conduct, etc. Therefore, as a model for prayer these truths should be ingrained upon our hearts and confirmed by our lips. However, at times one area of this model may be emphasized more than another. For instance, I may spend 10 minutes in extolling God for His excellently, but spend the next 30 minutes asking Him to assist me in dealing with a problem I am having with forgiving someone else, etc. In other words, prayer is also somewhat of an individual recipe and it is not always chocolate! While it should always make a complete cake, the amount of ingredients may vary.
The Lord's Prayer is not just a quick set of preset words that we say and spray, but rather a meditation of the heart bended toward our Father. It is a discussion. It is part of a relationship — an Abba relationship. I think Adam might say, ‘like a walk in the Garden with God BEFORE …' (God IS REALLY there, He is REALLY listening, He is REALLY concerned). One is not just too merely say verses (Pharisees did this), but let the verses "say us" — i.e. reveal our hearts. Be REAL with God, so He may be REAL with you!
So, at times the Lord's Prayer may be a rather short prayer and at other times it will be rather long. I tend to find myself still at the rather long side of prayer. What about you?
Answer by: Joseph R. Nally, Theological Editor, on behalf of the staff at IIIM. The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily the "official position" of Third Millennium Ministries.
