An estimated 2 billion people pray or sing The Lord’s Prayer on Easter Sunday every year - almost a third of the world’s population!
When Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, this simple yet profound prayer was His response:
“OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD. AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS. AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE.”
- MATTHEW 6:9-13
HOW TO PRAY THIS PRAYER, DAILY:
Try memorizing these words and praying them each day emphasizing a different line. When you know it well try rephrasing and personalizing each line to relate to your life. The Lord's Prayer is also a powerful way to structure daily prayer. Why not use its themes to worship the Lord; intercede for the world; petition Him with your needs; ask for forgiveness and forgive others; and to pray for self-control and protection.
PRAY THE LORD’S PRAYER AT MIDDAY EACH DAY.
People across the globe set their alarms for midday. Wherever they are, whatever they’re doing, they commit to pause and pray this famous and ancient prayer.
Sometimes when your alarm goes off it’s inconvenient. In many ways that's the whole point; we want our busyness to be rudely and regularly interrupted by a reminder of our deepest priorities.
As part of Jewish tradition Jesus would have paused at least three times a day to pray to his Father in Heaven. A rhythm like this can put you in some interesting situations. When that alarm goes off in a work meeting or in the middle of class lesson, saying the prayer becomes a challenge. Try praying the Lord’s Prayer every day for a month and see how the themes and words grow in depth and meaning.
JOIN IN:
Learn the prayer
Set your alarm to 12.00pm each day
Commit to pray
The aim is that one day on the hour, every hour, people in every time zone are praying the Lord’s Prayer. While one nation sleeps, another is calling God’s Kingdom to earth.
Want to go a little deeper? Why not try this 60-minute prayer guide that takes you through the Lord’s Prayer in an hour?