THE LORD’S PRAYER— A PERSONAL TAKE…—#8
August 30th, 2026
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this…” (Matthew 6:5-9)
“Heap up empty phrases”—don’t you find it so ironic that the one prayer that Jesus told his disciples to practice in solitude, with sincerity of heart, is now rambled off without a second thought. Almost everyone can recite the Lord’s Prayer by memory and I dare say, very few take the time to really dwell in its intent and meaning. I know I didn’t. And then I heard an Aramaic version of the prayer recited not long ago by Harpa Dei. It is haunting. Wrenching. I didn’t understand a single word and yet felt every single note of it deeply. It reset my intention on the prayer. What follows is my take on it. Perhaps you’ll try your own…
Our Father, who art in heaven…
(Not “My Father” but “Our Father”… My struggle is the word “father”, when I had an earthly father... who I remember loved me even with all HIS faults ... I have real memories and he was “real” in so many ways….I so struggle to see you as ‘real”….help me to see you as the true “Father”, who lives in Heaven but dwells with me, in me and loves me despite all of MY faults...)
Hallowed be thy name…
(I need to recognize his name as THE NAME... my Father... with reverence and praise which I don’t do very well)
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven...
(This is another challenge... asking your kingdom to come to earth and fulfill your will... over the will of anyone else…-my will, their will, others wills... because despite our best intentions, we still won’t get it right will we?… you clearly want things to be as they are in Heaven which is as it should be...we can only pray and try to meet that hope… )
Give us this day our daily bread...
(I’m getting better with this one...I think… slowly coming to realize that all I have is from You... blessed to have some gifts that have allowed me to meet my needs and even wants generously…Help me to cease striving needlessly...straining for control, in order to mitigate the risk that I imagine, so that I can assume the illusion of control that I think I have…. and then have my faith weakened because I think I’m strong and my dependence on you is not required)
And forgive us our trespasses...
(So many... by the minute, hour and day... piling up like garbage...I see that my own efforts to “tame” my trespassing is impossible... it’s your grace that saves me of this burden...because I’ll just keep betraying you otherwise)
As we forgive those who trespass against us...
(Can I really do this?? I’m not sure I have true enemies but I sure have minor grudges and “turn the other way” moments... it’s a foothold to bad stuff...help me to not turn away and help my selfish heart not be embittered by grudges... extend my hand, be the first to say hello, greet with a smile and not pretend to not see “them” )
And lead us not into temptation…
(Lusting for the world... yikes! Wealth, comfort, pleasure material and commercial gain, wants… so many wants... all gifts if looked at the right way ...but to forget the source or origin of those gifts... You... then I turn to envy and want more… entitled... greed...why can’t I have more! Don’t I deserve it! man, I need help on this...)
But deliver us from evil…
(Isn’t the implication here clear... evil lurks and will unfold...and we need delivery from it… full stop. Can’t avoid it and it will happen-- intended or not ...by the good and the bad... it’s baked into the program...let that sink in… but it’s You that delivers… let that sink in more...)
For thine is the Kingdom...
(Because our true focus and attention is not here! Do good works, seek out the Gospel, let the “fruits of the spirit” bloom... there is a great sermon by Francis Chan on The Rope.... check it out....our focus is not here but there...we must never forget that...but of course I do... so much to do, see and want… help me with that… )
The power and the glory...
(It’s where the real juice is... it’s the place of hope renewed and strength restored..)
Forever and ever, Amen... Amen