The Lord's Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer is the most important prayer there is. That's why it is taught and studied and prayed by just about every Christian.

It is important because Jesus taught it to His disciples when they asked him how to pray in a God-pleasing way.

The Lord's Prayer is the complete prayer. In it we thank God for His goodness, ask that His saving will be done in our lives, trust that He will provide for all our daily needs of body and soul, forgive us, protect us, and give us the ability to show Christian care and forgiveness to others.

Although the Lord's Prayer is short and clear, some still misunderstand it. One of the mistakes some people make is believing that saying the Lord's Prayer over and over again makes them holier and holier people. But our prayers do not save us. Our prayers do not make God like us. Jesus makes us acceptable to God. Jesus' perfect life and death on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins makes us acceptable to God. Prayer is simply our response to all His goodness and grace.

Another mistaken belief about the Lord's Prayer is when people try to impress God or other people through their outward behavior when they pray. You don't have to dress up or tell God every little detail of what you are asking for when you pray. You don't have to sing your prayers with a beautiful voice or use old-sounding words, believing that God will listen because of your fancy prayers. Instead, just pray to God in the same way you would talk to your parents: simply, openly, trusting they always have the best in mind for you.

To find the Lord’s Prayer in Scripture, you can go to the Gospel according to Saint Matthew and Saint Luke.

In Matthew, Jesus gives his disciples the Lord’s Prayer in chapter six (verses five through fifteen). In Luke, you can find the Lord's Prayer in chapter eleven (verses one through thirteen).

The great thing about the Lord's Prayer is that Jesus not only gave us the Lord's Prayer as a precious gift to use with joy, He also is the one who prays this prayer perfectly for us. Our prayers are acceptable because we pray connected with Christ and trusting that praying through Him makes our prayers great and pleasing prayers before our Heavenly Father.

One of the ways I will remember and use the Lord’s Prayer is at mealtime. When my family and I pray before we eat I will remember how Jesus showed us the life of prayer - at the beginning and end of the day, when in need, and at the table.

It is important for me that I continue to be connected to a Christian congregation that honors and makes use of the Lord's Prayer in ever worship service. Being active at my church encourages me to receive Christ's forgiveness week after week, strengthening my trust in Jesus and helping me be a blessing to my family and people in need.

The congregation can help me as a Confirmand to support me as I grow in my Christian faith, to keep teaching me about God and the Bible, and warn me if I am doing anything that would hurt me or my Christian faith.

Another way I am hoping my church can help me is by helping me learn from my mistakes — letting me come to them for help.

Today I ask God to help me as a confirmed member of the church to reflect Jesus' love and forgiveness in my life and continue to regularly attend services and Bible studies.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” This verse helps me remember that only the true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, will answer our prayers (not Buddha or Muhammad). The Lord's Prayer also helps me know that God is the one and only true God, and everything He does for me is done with love and care.

Lorelei Jurenka, 5/23/2010