In This Manner

In This Manner

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13

What use should we make of the Lord’s Prayer? We recite it in worship services. In some traditions it has become a part of the liturgy. As we consider it, we perhaps ought to dwell upon the fact that while the mere recitation of it serves a purpose, it is not necessarily the best use of it. Christ uses the phrase, ‘In this manner, therefore, pray.’ If we consider the implications of all the things upon which we have been meditating for the past days, we have to conclude that this prayer is full of potential for better use. Most of us do better with structure. The Lord’s Prayer provides an excellent outline for us to employ, in order for us to organize our prayers. If we begin with God, ‘Our Father in heaven,’ dwell upon His position, His power, and His glory, and proceed to pray along the lines of our relationship with Him, we are off to a good start. We may continue with all the thoughts that gather around the phrase, ‘Hallowed be Your name.’ We may then proceed to, ‘Your Kingdom come,’ and the rest of the prayer, phrase by phrase, to give order and structure to our praying. Whereas this is not the only correct way to pray, it does serve as an excellent model, which Christ Himself recommends. It will help give form and substance to our praying, and elevate the use of it above mere recitation. ‘In this manner, therefore pray, Our Father in heaven….’

‘Our Father in heaven,’ we rejoice that You are so good to us
as to help us organize our thoughts
as we approach Your Throne of Grace.
We praise You that You have sent Christ
to instruct us how to pray, that You might receive the glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning