How to Pray: Using the Lord’s Prayer as an Example

Staying with the theme of prayer this week, I thought I’d spend some more time on how to pray—specifically using the Lord’s Prayer as a guide.  I will also give you an example of how I would personally use the Lord’s Prayer to pray at the start of my day.  Jesus gave “The Lord’s Prayer” as an example of how to pray (not necessarily meant to be memorized and quoted).  I find it hilarious how Hollywood always portrays Christians praying this prayer.  It’s the typical stereotype of Christians–that whenever we pray, this must be what we say every time.  Don’t even get me started on the stereotypical, weak, and ignorant ways that Hollywood depicts Christians.  That’s another soapbox I can get stuck on for a while!

Anyhow, I don’t believe that Jesus meant for the Lord’s Prayer to be the ONLY way and the only thing that we pray (and especially not word for word).  I know this because there are numerous other examples of prayer throughout the Bible, and they are not all identical to this.  He also said “pray like this” or “pray in this manner” NOT “pray this”.

So keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at a line-by-line breakdown of the Lord’s Prayer and how we might use it as a guide to pray. 

Matthew 6:9 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

This is an example or a protocol of sorts of how we should approach God. By calling him “hallowed” we are showing honor and reverence and submitting to his ultimate authority. It’s important to worship God and give Him praise.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4 (NIV)

The Bible said we should come to God with praise and thanks.  The start of your prayer is the best time to do this (read more in this post on starting with praise).  Giving praise, glory, and thanks to God first helps us to prioritize Him.  First honor, then ask.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

Matthew Henry said in his commentary on the Lord’s Prayer, “We must begin our prayers with praising God, and it is very fit he should be first served, and that we should give glory to God, before we expect to receive mercy and grace from him. Let him have praise of his perfections, and then let us have the benefit of them.”[i]

Praising God can sometimes seem awkward, at least for me it is.  It’s often hard to know what to say.  I’ve found it helpful to praise Him for His character traits and attributes, especially roles He’s played in my life recently.  It’s also helpful to praise Him for who I need Him to be.  If I need to be comforted, I praise Him that He is a comforter.  If I need healing, I praise Him for being a healer, and so on.  At my Moms in Prayer group each week we always start our prayers with praising God for one of His attributes (click here for a list of attributes provided by Moms in Prayer or click here or here for some posts). 

Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

This is an example to pray for God’s will and plan in your life.  His will on earth is the same as His will in heaven.  His will can be discerned from His Word.  We should pray in and for God’s will.  You don’t have to pray “if it’s your will” for everything.  If we are praying in line with God’s Word (the Bible) we already ARE praying in and for His will.  If you know the nature of God, you will already know His will.

For example, I don’t ask for a specific request for God, like healing, and then say “if it’s your will” because I already know that it’s His will to heal me.  Healing was one of Jesus’ defining characteristics.  However, I often DO start my days with a prayer saying something like “Lord, please let your will be done in my life/in my class today/in my husband’s job today/at my kids’ school today/etc.”

I like how Matthew 6:10 says “on earth as it is in heaven” because that tells me that if it’s not God’s will in heaven (if it wouldn’t happen in heaven), it’s not God’s will for me here on earth either.  In other words, if God wouldn’t allow it in heaven—death, destruction, depression, loss, etc.—then He doesn’t want me to have to experience it here either. 

Unfortunately, those things do happen because we live in a fallen world, but that’s exactly why I pray for God’s will to be done that day.  I want to try to avoid and be protected from as much of that as possible.  This could really get into a long philosophical discussion, but let’s save that for another day. 😉

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42 (NIV)

Jesus prayed this prayer 3 times in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was arrested to be crucified.  It would be fitting to pray for God to enable us to do what pleases Him and to help us to know what that is and to be obedient.

Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread,”

This is an example of asking and trusting God to meet our needs—He is our source.  All of our needs are met according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

If you have any needs to be met this is the place to make requests.  I actually make requests both when I’m praying for God’s will and when I’m asking for daily needs to be met.  I don’t think God is going to ignore you if you make requests in the “wrong spot”!

Matthew 6:12 “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

This is an example of how we should confess and repent of our sins and turn from them.  It’s also an example to forgive those who have wronged us just as God has forgiven us.  This is the time to search your heart and see if there are any areas in your life where you need to make things right.  This is the time to let go of any unforgiveness, resentment, or malice that you might be holding against or toward someone else.  Even in the middle of your prayer, make a conscious effort to forgive those who have wronged you.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25 (NIV)

Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

This is an example of asking God for help in avoiding temptation and sin and for protection from the devil’s attacks. Here we would ask God to help us to stay out of any situations where we might be tempted and keep us from any negative circumstances.

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41(NIV)

EXAMPLE PRAYER: How I have personally used the Lord’s Prayer

First I did memorize it.  It’s something I also taught my kids when they were in preschool too.  In fact, each of them “performed” in their preschool talent show reciting this prayer. 🙂  It also helps that my mother-in-law gave me a really cool angel wall décor with the Lord’s Prayer engraved in it (pictured above).  Looking at it often helps us to remember it and also serves as a prompt to pray.  Then as I pray, (for me this is usually a start-of-my-day prayer in the shower) I do actually recite or think of the prayer a line at a time (more to help me remember what comes next and as a trigger/prompt of what to pray for), and I expound on each area.

Example of how I use the Lord’s Prayer (this changes from day to day):

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name (I memorized it in King James so it kinda stuck)…

Lord, I do praise you today and thank you for everything you’ve done for me.  I praise you that you are God our healer.  Thank you for healing my dad this past week and answering our prayers.  I’m grateful that he was able to be treated with no complications.  Thank you that his hospital stay was short, and thank you that he will continue to recover.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…

God, I ask that your will be done in my life today in the lives of my family.  I ask for your wisdom and guidance as we each go throughout our day today.  Open doors today that no one can close, and close doors that no one can open (Rev. 3:7-8) to help keep us on the right path and inside of your will.  Help us to have the favor that you promise in Your Word.  Thank you that I am surrounded with favor as with a shield (Ps. 5:12).  I am blessed wherever I go.  I have favor with people and favor with you.

May your will be done in our work today.  Please give Eric wisdom at work.  Help him to make good decisions and to be a positive influence at work.  We’re also getting close to the start of school, and I’d like to pray for your will to be done for the kids’ school year.  Please let them be placed with the right teachers and with the right group of friends/kids.  I don’t necessarily want the “best” teacher, but I do want the right teacher for them.  I specifically ask for your favor in this area.  Please also let them be surrounded by godly influences and keep away any kids that might be wrong influences.

I also pray for my upcoming classes.  Please let your will be done in my classes.  Please place the right students in my classes—the ones I can truly influence and help, and please redirect any distractive students or troublemakers to enroll in a different class.  Give me wisdom and guidance as I teach this semester, and help me to listen to and follow your direction.  Thank you for trusting me enough to speak into the lives of so many young people.

Give us this day our daily bread…

Thank you Lord for being our provider and meeting ALL of our needs according to your riches in glory through Christ Jesus.  Today I ask for wisdom over our finances, for supernatural favor over our finances, and for increased channels of blessings.  I thank you in advance that we will always have what we need at the time we need it and that we will always have more than enough.  Thank you that you are blessing us so that we can be a blessing to others.  Help me to be a blessing to others today.

God, help me to find ways to be generous today, whether in my money, my time, my things, or even with my help.  Thank you that I am happy, healthy, and prosperous.  Thank you for continuing to provide our family with the money and good deals for our upcoming Disney trip!

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors…

Thank you Lord for forgiving me.  I know this week I have had a bit of a temper with my kids and yelled at them when I shouldn’t have.  I even said “shut up” which I’ve agreed not to do.  Please forgive me for that, Lord, and help me to do a better job of controlling my anger and emotions.  Help me to do a better job of learning to be angry without sinning or acting out in my anger (like the Bible says in Ephesians 4:26).

Help me also to do a better job of forgiving them when they have sinned.  I choose to forgive those who have wronged me.  My forgiveness of others is sometimes a work in progress, and I continue to choose over and over again to forgive _____ when I remember what happened.  I choose to give to you the job of punishing them.  I trust you to avenge me.  That’s not my job, and I know it’s wrong to harbor ill will towards them.  Thank you for enabling me to forgive them.  Because I, myself, am a recipient of your forgiveness and unconditional love, I know that through you and with your help I too can forgive others. 

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…

I ask for your protection from anything bad today, Lord.  Your Word says no evil shall befall me neither shall any plague come near my dwelling (Psalm 91:10).  Thank you for protecting me and my family and keeping us from harm, sickness, and disaster today.  Thank you for your hedge of protection and for keeping us safe from the enemy’s attacks (whether supernatural OR through people).  Please help me/us to obey you today and avoid temptations.  If I should encounter any kind of temptation today, I ask that you would help me to recognize it early and find a way to escape it (1 Corinthians 10:13).  Help me to recognize the red flags/warning signs.

For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever…

Thank you again for hearing me and answering my prayers.  I ask these things in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Take Some Practical Steps to Use the Lord’s Prayer as an Example:

• First, memorize the Lord’s Prayer.

Locate the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 in a version/translation that you like.  Write it down on an index card, and place it somewhere you will see it every day (the bathroom mirror, the refrigerator, above your bedroom light switch, on your car console, etc.).  You can also use scripture memorization apps for your smartphone or create a verse image (like the one here—feel free to save or pin this image for your own use) and save it on your phone to look at frequently.

• Then, use the Lord’s Prayer as a line-by-line prompt of how to pray and what to pray for.

Recite a line and follow it up with your own personalized example of that line.  This will be easier if you memorized it first, but you can also just read it and pray as you read a line at a time.  See my own example above for an idea of how to use the Lord’s Prayer line-by-line.  Add in your own praise, thanks, requests, etc.

• Finally, remember that this is not the only way to pray.

There are many reasons to pray and many ways, times, and places to pray.  Always speak from the heart—however you pray.  The Lord’s Prayer was given to us as a good example of how to approach God and make requests of Him.

Have you ever used the Lord’s Prayer as a guide to pray?  What new insight have you gained praying like this?  Tell us about it by leaving a comment below. 

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If you have benefited from this post or if you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward and share this post with them via the sharing links below! “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV) 

*Updated: Originally posted 7/28/2015

[i] Henry, Matthew. “MATTHEW HENRY’S COMMENTARY CHAPTER 6 VERSES 9–15.” Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Matt.6.9-Matt.6.15.