Pray like a Reformer Part 2, the Lord’s Prayer (From Wretchedradio)

When the Disciples beseeched Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11: 1), Jesus taught them to pray what we now call the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; also Luke 11:2-4). When we desire to learn to pray, we can do no better than to return to Christ’s model as set forth in Holy Scripture.



Concerning the Lord’s Prayer, Luther said, “It is the very best prayer…It is surely evident that a real master composed and taught it”. He not only made use of this prayer but he also taught its use in A Simple Way to Pray.


Before we turn to Luther’s use of the Lord’s Prayer, allow me to review the structure of the Lord’s Prayer. It consists of three parts: a preface, six petitions and a conclusion. The preface is an address, it tells us to whom we are speaking. A petition is a request, appeal or entreaty, it tells for what we are asking. The conclusion is the end of the prayer, it finishes our prayer and enforces our petitions.

Preface: Our Father in heaven,
1st Petition: hallowed be your name.
2nd Petition: Your kingdom come,
3rd Petition: your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
4th Petition: Give us this day our daily bread,
5th Petition: and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
6th Petition: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil [1]
Conclusion: For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen[2]

Now then, here is a summary of Luther’s use of the Lord’s Prayer.

First, pray the Lord’s Prayer. Then choose a section and repeat it. As an example, let us take the first petition “Hallowed be your name”. Think about that petition, consider what it means and pray for that, both for yourself and for others.

“Lord, you have made your Name holy; I pray that you would keep it holy in me and in the world… etc.”

Next, consider how God grants that request, as well as what things may hinder it, both in your self and others. Pray for those things.

“Lord, may your name be kept holy by the pure preaching of your word. Grant that my thoughts and actions would glorify your Name…”

“May your people honor your Name…”

“May your word go forth over all the earth and your Name be exalted above all else…”

“May you convert or restrain your enemies, that they will either hallow your Name or be silent…”

Now you can move on to another section and repeat the same process: (1) consider what it means and pray for that, both for yourself and for others, (2) consider how God grants that request, as well as what things may hinder it, both in yourself and others and pray for those things. You can proceed through the entire prayer this way, or, if you desire, you can remain in one section until you are content. The point is not rigid formality or empty words, but rather learning to pray as Christ taught, with sincerity and according to God’s revealed will. Luther’s words are extremely helpful here,


You should also know that I do not want you to recite all these words in your prayer. That would make it nothing but idle chatter and prattle... Rather do I want your heart to be stirred and guided concerning the thoughts, which ought to be comprehended in the Lord's Prayer. These thoughts may be expressed, if your heart is rightly warmed and inclined toward prayer, in many different ways and with more words or fewer. I do not bind myself to such words or syllables, but say my prayers in one fashion today, in another tomorrow, depending upon my mood and feeling. I stay however, as nearly as I can, with the same general thoughts and ideas. It may happen occasionally that I may get lost among so many ideas in one petition that I forego the other six. If such an abundance of good thoughts comes to us we ought to disregard the other petitions, make room for such thoughts…The Holy Spirit himself preaches here, and one word of his sermon is far better than a thousand of our prayers. Many times I have learned more from one prayer than I might have learned from much reading and speculation.


Finally, remember, when we pray the Lord's Prayer, we are praying the prayer that Christians have prayed for two millennia, all the way back to the Disciples and even the Lord Himself. May God grant you a fruitful time in prayer today.

-Brainiac


[1] Note: Luther divides the Lord’s Prayer into 7 petitions, seeing the conjunction “but” in v. 13 as introducing a new petition. I, however, following the Westminster Confession of Faith, have divided it into only six petitions. So, for Luther the 6th petition is “Lead us not into temptation” and the 7th petition is “but deliver us from evil”, whereas my division renders the 6th and final petition as “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” The difference is not essential and you can adopt whichever convention you prefer.



[2] Note: If you are using a version other than the King James, the conclusion of Mt. 6:13 will be “Amen” rather than “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”. Luther did not include the longer conclusion in his Catechism, but the Westminster Catechism does; therefore, I have chosen to include it. Here again, I leave it to the reader to decide which convention to adopt.