I love the Lord’s Prayer.
It’s short, simple, succinct—and packed with essential elements for effective communication with God: worship, submission, petition for needs, appeal for guidance and relief, repentance, intercession, and high praise.
It may have been misnamed, though.
Yes, the Lord authored it. But, to call the prayer, recorded in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, the “LORD’s prayer” is not exactly accurate—as Jesus would never have needed to pray for the forgiveness of His debts or trespasses. Rather, the well-known prayer, which begins with “Our Father, which art in heaven …” should perhaps be called the “Disciples’ Prayer.” 1
Yes, it’s a template. But, I found it interesting to learn that the Lord’s Prayer may be more than just an example of prayer. Luke tells us in chapter 11 that Jesus was responding to one of His disciples who asked Him, “LORD, teach us to pray.” His response, as we read it in the KJV begins, “When ye pray, say …”
Stop there. Author and Bible scholar, Scot McKnight, suggests that what Jesus actually said might be more accurately translated as “whenever ye pray” instead of “when.” From his viewpoint, the word “whenever” reveals a more literal understanding of the original Greek expression used in that context. McKnight also suggests that the word “recite” is probably closer to what Jesus said than “say.” He explains, “Luke (here) uses a present imperative, indicating that Jesus expects this very prayer to be repeated over and over—whenever they pray. The best way to translate something that is said over and over is ‘recite.’” 2
Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus prayed often—and the Gospels record no less than 25 distinct “Lord’s Prayers.” That is, prayers that our Lord Jesus, Himself, prayed.
I love ALL of the Lord’s Prayers.
One of the most notable was while He was in the Garden of Gethsemane. There, Jesus taught us how to pray in the most powerful way, while IN the most difficult circumstances possible. In agony, Jesus prayed, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42 KJV — also found in Matthew 26:39 and Mark 14:36)
He taught us what to say while we’re suffering—while IN pain, while IN the midst of our fear and confusion—while IN the middle of the worst day of our life. How? by unconditionally accepting His will—His discipline, His decisions, His direction. By preferring His purposes, His perfect plan over our own comfort.
But, wait, you say, didn’t Jesus Himself pray for relief from his suffering? Yes, He did. “Father … remove this cup from me.” But He was ultimately resolved to press on to the REAL RELIEF, which comes only after you’ve come THROUGH the pain—not in refusing it. Only by accepting His will, not resisting or rejecting it.
“Jesus … who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross …” (Hebrews 12:2)
Truth be told, we spend a lot of our prayer time telling God what we WANT. We present to Him our list of requests—and, dare I say, our demands. After all, aren’t we, as children, supposed to make our wishes known? Yes, Paul told the Philippian church: “In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:5-7)
And then … He will give us everything we ask for, RIGHT? No, Paul says: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” In other words, God’s peace will “stand guard as ‘a sentinel’ at the gate of your mind and heart” … helping you to willingly accept whatever He allows or deems necessary at the moment, though it may … or may NOT be what you asked for.
I can write out my wish list of the things my heart desires. But, above all, here’s what I DON’T WANT:
- I don’t want to argue with God about everything—anything!—that He does in my life.
- I don’t want to oppose Him on every hand, for every decision He makes for my good—versus what I think is good.
- I don’t want to waste His time by discounting the lesson(s) He is trying to teach me, no matter how long.
- I don’t want to refuse the test and the correction that He deems necessary for me, no matter how painful.
- I don’t want to resist His will for me by arguing, demanding, declaring MY will in opposition over His.
When I accept what I don’t understand … when I receive the bitter, embrace the pain, endure the distress, and accept what seems impossible from the Hand of the LORD—there is a resulting peace that floods my soul and a strength that surpasses all understanding. His will, His plan, His purpose be done—not mine.
“Meanwhile, through trusting, you are being protected by God’s power for a deliverance ready to be revealed at the Last Time. Rejoice in this, even though for a little while you may have to experience grief in various trials. Even gold is tested for genuineness by fire. The purpose of these trials is so that your trust’s genuineness, which is far more valuable than perishable gold, will be judged worthy of praise, glory and honor at the revealing of Yeshua the Messiah.” (1 Peter 1:5-7 CJB)
Here’s MY Disciple’s Prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus, not my will, but Thine be done—for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the GLORY forever and ever. Amen.”
1 Dr. David Jeremiah, “Prayer, Pagans and Pretenders”
2 Scot McKnight, “The Blue Parakeet, Rethinking How You Read the Bible”
