“I used to think the Lord’s Prayer was a short prayer; but as I live longer, and see more of life, I begin to believe there is no such thing as getting through it. If a man, in praying that prayer, were to be stopped by every word until he had thoroughly prayed it, it would take him a lifetime.” –Henry Ward Beecher
When you pray, are you ever uncertain that you’re “doing it right”? Jesus’ disciples felt that doubt and asked their Master to teach them how to pray. He gave them, and us, the short but profound formula that we call “The Lord’s Prayer.”
It contains everything necessary to the life of our body and soul and to our worship of God. But maybe the words have grown rote and stale to you, through repetition.
If that’s the case, consider trying to put the Lord’s Prayer into your own words. For instance, for “Our Father, which art in Heaven,” you might say, “God, what a miracle it is that even though You are so far above us, we can speak to You directly and know that You are listening.”
For “Hallowed be thy Name,” perhaps: “You are holy and mighty and worthy of all praise.” And so on.
By really thinking about the meaning of the words, and putting them into your own language, you can create a new connection with this pure source of spiritual strength.
