Written by our Lay Leader, Doug
Jesus taught his disciples how to pray to God by saying a prayer that we now call “The Lord’s Prayer.” In the church, we learn this prayer at a young age, we teach it to our own children, and we say it in unison every Sunday. You may pray it more often.
When you pray this prayer, do you internalize or realize the meaning of what you say? Has it become so engrained in your memory, that you say it mechanically? Has it lost its meaning because it has become an unthinking routine? If so, I challenge you to say it to yourself slowly, meditating on its meaning, phrase by phrase, or even word by word. Let it gain new meaning to you, so that it is your worshipful praise and petition to Our Father, with words given us by His son.
Here is my amplified version of the Lord’s Prayer that may inspire you to find heartfelt meaning to the words as you pray them:
“Our Father,” — Our Creator, who created us in love for His purpose, who cares for us, His children, and shares His love with us.
“who art” — He exists, raw reality, eternal, Who is Being, Whose image we are made in.
“in heaven,” — beyond our earthly, known universe, a parallel universe as it were, unknown, mysterious.
“hallowed be” — revere, recognize and honor His magnificence, His presence, as infinitely more than ourselves.
“Thy name,” — what He is called, which is beyond our understanding, and what can not be contained within a word, which would be an inadequate representation of who He is.
“Thy kingdom” — all that is the domain of God, everything He rules over and sustains, His perfect creation.
“come,” — an invitation to invade, to be brought into fruition, existential, be known.
“Thy will” — God’s perfect purpose, intent, and ultimate expression of Himself.
“be done” — implemented, actualized, realized, finalized.
“on earth” — in our space and time, in our experience, at the place of mankind’s existence, within the realm of our sensations, in our present context.
“as it is” — in the same way, parallel, equal.
“in heaven.” — in the universe of God that we cannot know until He allows us in, a dimension we cannot imagine.
“Give us” — ask rightly, provide us.
“this day” — today, every day, till the coming of the Lord.
“our” — belonging to all of us, all of mankind.
“daily bread” — all that we need to be sustained: food, water, air, light, each other, faith in Jesus, love, wisdom, and all that you have designed and intended for us.
“and forgive us” — do not give us the punishment we deserve, have mercy on us.
“our trespasses,” — our wrongdoings, our offenses.
“as we” — all of us, every last one.
“forgive those” — have mercy on our fellow beings, who are broken and lost just as we are, overlook and forget their offenses against us.
“who trespass” — who make the same mistakes we do, who offend.
“against us,” — done to us, perhaps intentionally, but often without malicious intent, but out of ignorance, weakness, or false understanding.
“and lead us” — be our guide, counsel, and deliverer.
“not into temptation,” — away from all things not suited or meant for us, protect us from those things that would otherwise become our idols.
“but deliver us” — guide us to the final destination, see us through to the end, guarantee our destiny.
“from evil.”— shield us from the evil one, from that which does not love us, which desires to harm us, that which is not good.
“For” — because, with purpose, as meant to be.
“Thine” — Yours, belonging to God the Father.
“Is the Kingdom,” — Your people, creation, Trinity, dominion, heaven and earth, all that You reign over.
“the Power,” — Your might, overwhelming sovereignty.
“and the Glory” — Your exalted light, radiance, splendor, magnificence, and goodness.
“forever and ever.” — eternally, beyond time as we know it.
“Amen.” — Yes, yes!