The Lord's Prayer

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Matthew 6:9

Jesus gave this prayer to Galilean disciples who prayed as Jews, shaped by synagogue prayer and the Kaddish. It is short by design. Pray one line, then stop and let your own life fill it in before moving on.

1. Step 1

   Our Father in heaven

   The Aramaic Abba behind this address is family language — near, not casual. 'Our' means you never pray alone.

   What does it change to call God Father today?

2. Step 2

   Hallowed be your name · Your kingdom come

   The first requests are for God's honour and reign, not our comfort. Kingdom language pointed a occupied people toward a different King.

   Where do you long to see God's reign break in?

3. Step 3

   Give us this day our daily bread

   Daily bread echoes manna — enough for today, not a stockpile. It sanctifies ordinary need.

   What do you actually need today?

4. Step 4

   Forgive us · as we forgive

   Received mercy and released mercy are tied together (Matthew 6:14–15). This is the hardest line to pray honestly.

   Who are you being asked to release?

5. Step 5

   Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil

   A prayer for protection in trial, spoken by people who knew that faithfulness costs something.

   Where do you feel most exposed right now?