The Lord's Prayer (The Model Prayer)

While Jesus was walking on earth in human form, he taught his followers many things. One was how to pray. Even today the model prayer is the guideline for our prayer time. When you can't think of words for your prayer try reciting the following and God will hear you. This prayer at one time was recited in every school building in the United States. Not sure about Canada or other countries. What a pity the children today are not allowed to speak these words out loud.

We will attempt to discuss The Model Prayer in sections by starting with where God is and his name.

"Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name."

Confirmation that God is in heaven. Remember this was Jesus praying to his Father in heaven. He also is teaching us that we are to honor the name of God who is also our heavenly Father.

Much controversy has come about with the name of God. He does have a name so why is it such a problem to use that name especially while you pray to him?

I believe we should choose how we meditate or pray and honor God's name in the way we feel right for us. To listen to what others are telling us may not be the correct way for our own personal salvation.

to be continued....

Now that we have determined that God has a name and we should honor that name, do we as Christians know his name?

I have come across a neat site in searching for the names of God. It even includes the Old Testament names and the New Testament names (God's Son). The site is worth the time to read.

A quote from the site: "The Name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous runs into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10

http://smilegodlovesyou.org/names.html

This is a prayer that used to be recited in some schools too. Please instill this prayer in our youth, to continue it's existence.

I wish the prayer would return to public school.

You are right Lightfootfan....it is up to us to teach the younger generation the Lord's Prayer. If they memorize it they can recite it silently within their hearts. No one can stop anyone from praying silently.

Posting the complete chapter of Matthew 6 and would like to make a statement concerning a couple verses right after the Model Prayer.

Matthew 6

1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11Give us this day our daily bread.

12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

18That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

In verses 14 and 15

Bible wrote: 14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Here we see that we must forgive others before God forgives us. A new topic has been posted for forgiveness. Would like to see opinions here: https://insidethebible.forumotion.com/t179-can-we-really-forgive-others#321