The Lord’s Prayer: Part 2 – ‘Lord teach us to pray…and lead us not into temptation’

The Lord’s Prayer according to Matthew 6:9-13 – “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

The Lord’s Prayer – ‘Lord teach us to pray…and lead us not into temptation’

The simple but powerful prayer starts with an opening address to God Almighty, which says “Our Father which art in heaven”, and the seven (7) petitions follows.

The Seven (7) Petitions

1. Hallowed be thy name: Almighty God’s name is holy. The word “hallowed” simply means sanctified or holy. God is an embodiment of holiness. We understand as members of the body of Christ that, God is to be feared and worshipped above all. 1 Samuel 2:2 – “There is none holy as the Lord : for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.” We pray, in this petition, that the whole world will accept the holy name of God. Also accept Him as the one true God, the maker and ruler of the Universe.
2. Thy Kingdom come: First, in this petition, we pray for God’s Kingdom to take form now so that we can dwell in a world of faith, hope and love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Second, we pray for the fulfilment of the promise of the “new heaven and a new earth”. Read Revelation 21:1-4 for more about a “new heaven and a new earth”.
3. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven: From heaven, God reigns with justice and mercy. God’s will is that we show love to one another and worship Him. This petition is about selfless surrender to God’s will. We humbly ask God to bestow upon us His strength to obey His will, not ours. Living a life that gives glory to God.