Childish Things
So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.” Luke 11:2-5 (NKJV)
I remember as a little child going to church to learn the Lord’s prayer. I had it memorized and stated to me repeatedly in Sunday school and my mother and father both would encourage me throughout my adolescent years to take this to my heart. Now I am unsure how many eight- or nine-year-olds even knew the context of it let alone the words we were remembering, but we knew at some point, it would become relevant.
Fast forward to today, where I have full understanding of these words and their meaning. Or at least, so I thought I did. As Christians, we have a saying of how we pray that God’s words are printed on our hearts to imply that our hearts are often motivated by biblical teachings and not that of the world. However, in a world that has suffering, toxicity, misinformation, and yes, even fellow Christians that misrepresent who God is, one struggles to find comfort. We feel as if we can find nary a word of God either in our hearts or minds. That is today’s societal struggle. How do we find the center core where we can dive into the loving God that has nurtured us before we are born to be the person we are today? And if we are not that person, how do we get back? The answer lies in that very prayer we learned in our childhood.
The Lord’s Prayer is more than just a prayer for us to be better. It is a foundation of who we strive to be as servants of God. Let’s break this prayer down. The first theme is the glorification of God. The opening phrases, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name," "Your kingdom come," and "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," invite us to recognize and honor the very dominion of God. By addressing God as "Our Father," we acknowledge our relationship with Him, a relationship rooted in love and reverence. As Psalm 29:2 reminds us, "Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness." In these initial petitions, we align ourselves with God's purposes, seeking His kingdom and will above all else.
The second theme shifts our focus to our dependence on God. We ask Him to "give us day by day our daily bread," "forgive us our sins," and "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." These requests highlight our need for God's provision, mercy, and guidance. As Philippians 4:19 assures us, "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." By seeking His forgiveness, we also commit to forgiving others, embodying the grace we receive (also see Ephesians 4:32).
The Lord's Prayer teaches us that prayer is both an act of worship and a means of deepening our relationship with God. It is a daily opportunity to draw closer to Him, acknowledging His omniscience and our reliance on His wisdom and strength. As 1 Thessalonians 5:17 encourages, "Pray without ceasing," we are reminded that prayer is a continual dialogue, a chance to grow in faith and become more like Him.
In essence, when we pray, we give God His due glory and invite His transformative presence into our lives. It is through this sacred practice that we build a relationship that not only sustains us but also molds us into His likeness. Let us continue to center our faith on the simple and yet most powerful prayer in the Bible. What part of the Lord’s prayer resonates with you today? Where does it strength you or convict to grow spiritually? My prayer is that we trust the bigger picture of God’s Kingdom and for once, take a little bit of childish things. Amen.