Reflections on the Lord's Prayer, Part 1: A Life-changing Prayer

“Lord, teach us to pray.” Jesus' disciples asked him this in Luke 11, and his answer is what is commonly called the Lord's Prayer. The more familiar version is in Matthew 5. It's probably the most memorized prayer from the Bible, and as such might have the least amount of meaning. Strange as it is, oft-repeated phrases tend to become, well, boring.

The Lord's Prayer is anything but boring. A deeper look reveals a rich theology, showing a God with a Father's heart. It's also a radical prayer, challenging the disciple who prays it to a holy life, acting on the Father's love. If you read it carefully, and take it seriously, it could change your life.

First, a word about what this prayer is not. It's not self-gratifying, nor is it a trick to get God to do what you want. If we were writing this prayer, that's how it might be. Our prayer might be a bit more like this:

O Higher power that I control,
Make me famous,
Put me in charge,
Give me whatever I want—what's in my head should become reality.
Give me more than I could possibly eat so I won't have to work for it,
Take away all consequences for my actions, while punishing people I don't like,
And let me follow my own path, but don't let me get hurt in the process.

This prayer doesn't have the “we” language of Jesus's prayer. It doesn't have a relationship with God as a father. It isn't the prayer of a disciple, but of a con artist. God's a bit more like Santa Claus in this prayer; if we're good and say the right words, we'll get whatever we want. But Jesus makes it abundantly clear with his prayer that God is nothing like Santa. He is a father, who longs to do good for his children, but who also wants to see them grow and mature. He invites us to trust him with our deepest, most urgent needs, but at the same time does not let us be selfish.

Jesus teaches his disciples a prayer that is more than a spiritual exercise. He teaches it as a way of life. It may challenge you more than you think.