MAY: THE LORD'S PRAYER
Look Closer: Jesus taught his followers a prayer. We often call it “The Lord’s Prayer.” It is good to pray in all kinds of ways. And it’s also good to have ways of talking to God that are written on our hearts, like this prayer. Because so many Christians have prayed this prayer for 2,000 years, when you say this prayer it’s like you’re saying it with Christians around the world (and throughout history). At different ages, you’ll understand the words of the prayer in different ways. It helps us remember to trust in God and to forgive.
Spiral Deeper: As you read this from the book of Matthew, you may notice some differences from what you have heard or learned before! There’s a phrase in Matthew 6:12 that has had lots of variations over the years. Some people say “sins” or “trespasses” instead of “debts.” Sin and debt were all tied up together in Jesus’s time. When you sinned against someone or against land, you owed something to that person or to that land. So all of these phrases are “correct” - but separately, they don’t quite get at the full meaning.
And then there’s the big difference. Where’s the rest of the prayer?! The phrase, “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever, amen,” isn’t there! That part is known as the doxology, and it was added in prayer books later. It appears in some King James Version Bibles, as well. Lots of scholars have offered their hypotheses of where it came from, but its actual origin is unclear. What do we do with this information? Does it mean we shouldn’t say that last phrase? It’s a nice doxology and it says some good things, and there’s really no harm in saying it! It’s just good to be aware that it’s not in the actual Bible. And to know that many non-English-speaking cultures don’t use the phrase.
Look at these words of the prayer carefully. Consider what you’re saying to God. “Your will be done” (not mine). “Give us our daily bread” (not a warehouse full of bread). This prayer contains some antidotes to an individualist mindset. Let those words do their work in you and see how they form you!
Spiral Deeper: As you read this from the book of Matthew, you may notice some differences from what you have heard or learned before! There’s a phrase in Matthew 6:12 that has had lots of variations over the years. Some people say “sins” or “trespasses” instead of “debts.” Sin and debt were all tied up together in Jesus’s time. When you sinned against someone or against land, you owed something to that person or to that land. So all of these phrases are “correct” - but separately, they don’t quite get at the full meaning.
And then there’s the big difference. Where’s the rest of the prayer?! The phrase, “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever, amen,” isn’t there! That part is known as the doxology, and it was added in prayer books later. It appears in some King James Version Bibles, as well. Lots of scholars have offered their hypotheses of where it came from, but its actual origin is unclear. What do we do with this information? Does it mean we shouldn’t say that last phrase? It’s a nice doxology and it says some good things, and there’s really no harm in saying it! It’s just good to be aware that it’s not in the actual Bible. And to know that many non-English-speaking cultures don’t use the phrase.
Look at these words of the prayer carefully. Consider what you’re saying to God. “Your will be done” (not mine). “Give us our daily bread” (not a warehouse full of bread). This prayer contains some antidotes to an individualist mindset. Let those words do their work in you and see how they form you!
Pray It: Our Father, who is in heaven, holy is 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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Do It:
Learn the Lord’s Prayer as a household, adding a little more each week. Try doing it with motions (make up your own or use the ones described below). Making this into a body prayer will help with memory. It’s also really powerful to take away the spoken words and do this only as a body prayer.
Here’s a suggestion for motions (this goes straight from the Matthew version - change words to make it more like you say it in church or home if you like):
Our Father in heaven, (Reach up like a child reaching for a parent)
Holy is your name (Palms up and bow head)
Your kingdom come, (Turn in circle, keeping palms up)
Your will be done, (Hands down)On earth (Touch floor)
As it is in heaven (Arms stretch out to sides)
Give us this day our daily bread (Hands to stomach)
And forgive us our debts, (Swipe R hand)
As we also have forgiven our debtors. (Swipe L hand)
And do not bring us to the time of trial, (Cross arms in front with fists)
But rescue us from the evil one. (Open arms and step through)
To see Talashia’s children’s time on the Lord’s Prayer (including using these motions), click here.
Do It:
Learn the Lord’s Prayer as a household, adding a little more each week. Try doing it with motions (make up your own or use the ones described below). Making this into a body prayer will help with memory. It’s also really powerful to take away the spoken words and do this only as a body prayer.
Here’s a suggestion for motions (this goes straight from the Matthew version - change words to make it more like you say it in church or home if you like):
Our Father in heaven, (Reach up like a child reaching for a parent)
Holy is your name (Palms up and bow head)
Your kingdom come, (Turn in circle, keeping palms up)
Your will be done, (Hands down)On earth (Touch floor)
As it is in heaven (Arms stretch out to sides)
Give us this day our daily bread (Hands to stomach)
And forgive us our debts, (Swipe R hand)
As we also have forgiven our debtors. (Swipe L hand)
And do not bring us to the time of trial, (Cross arms in front with fists)
But rescue us from the evil one. (Open arms and step through)
To see Talashia’s children’s time on the Lord’s Prayer (including using these motions), click here.
Explore it: Notes from Tami
The Lord’s prayer expresses such confidence in God. How do we and our children develop solid self-confidence that is rooted in our confidence in God? These articles offer some practical suggestions. Implementing them in our lives together can make a big difference! This youtube explanation of the Lord’s Prayer may be more applicable for children a bit older. However, watching it yourself may provide you with help in explaining the prayer to your younger child. We hope our children learn to pray beyond simply the Lord’s Prayer. Here are a few suggestions to help you teach your children to pray.
The Lord’s prayer expresses such confidence in God. How do we and our children develop solid self-confidence that is rooted in our confidence in God? These articles offer some practical suggestions. Implementing them in our lives together can make a big difference! This youtube explanation of the Lord’s Prayer may be more applicable for children a bit older. However, watching it yourself may provide you with help in explaining the prayer to your younger child. We hope our children learn to pray beyond simply the Lord’s Prayer. Here are a few suggestions to help you teach your children to pray.
