I believe Jesus gave us an amazing gift in the Lord’s Prayer. He gave us a path to a simple way we can pray, so that the necessary elements that involve living life here on Earth can be found in this concise prayer. In his Bible commentary, my father-in-law, Oral Roberts, breaks Matthew 6 down so beautifully. He helps us understand how we can apply each element to our lives today. So, let’s look at Oral’s thoughts and insights on this most powerful prayer.

Our Father… The term Father signifies closeness—a close, personal relationship with our Father God, which we have through our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Which art… God exists. He is “I AM.” Jesus said that when we pray, we should pray to someone who IS—someone who is alive today and who never changes. The weather changes, people change, circumstances change, but God is the same, yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

In heaven… Remember that God, who desires to be our Father and our Source, is in heaven. And in heaven, there is no shortage. That’s why He can supply all our needs according to, and in the same manner as His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).

Hallowed be thy name… Hallowed means holy. Jesus had reverence for the name of God. He knew that His Father was the Source of His life, so He gave Him great love, honor, and praise.

Thy kingdom come… Jesus was concerned about the earthly place we live in, but He was even more concerned about God’s heavenly kingdom. Jesus taught us to pray concerning living in God and His power on earth, just as He intended when He brought God’s kingdom principles to earth. So, He taught us to pray and live our daily lives expecting God’s kingdom to be a part of our lives as we act on God’s Word in faith, expecting miracles in every area of our lives on this earth.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven… The will of God starts in heaven, but it must be lived out in our daily lives here on earth. That’s what my mother-in-law, Evelyn Roberts, called the “everydayness” of life. She truly believed God would meet our every need in a very practical, tangible way—every day. And this verse tells us that His will for our lives is to be accomplished on earth, just as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread… Jesus is talking about God’s daily sustenance. In Matthew 15:25–27, He called healing the children’s bread. In John 6:35,  Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life. Here, it reads that we can get daily sustenance in life through a relationship with Jesus. This includes both the things that can meet our physical needs as well as the things that can feed us spiritually.

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us… When we are trespassers or sinners against God and against people, God can offer us full and free forgiveness as we truly repent. And, in turn, we can extend our forgiveness through Christ to others who may do us wrong just as God generously gave us His very best—His Son Jesus—to bring about our forgiveness. This doesn’t mean we agree with their actions or condone them. It simply means we forgive them according to the Bible. This may or may not release them to repent and get right with God. But it releases us, spiritually speaking, from any bondage or hold the wrong done to us may try to have over us. As we forgive, it’s like spiritually taking the offense out of our hands and putting it into God’s hands. As we have freely received forgiveness, this indicates that we are to freely give forgiveness (Matthew 10:8).

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil… I believe this prayer asks, “God, don’t let me be left to myself when the going gets rough. Let me be in Your path when I face situations that are bigger than I am.” His help can be available to us throughout our daily lives, and as we acknowledge that we need Him and ask Him for His assistance, I believe He is right there to help. And as John 6:37 says, those who come to Him in faith, He doesn’t cast aside.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen… God’s kingdom (His Word, His will, and His ways of doing and being, according to Matthew 6:33) can triumph over all the attacks of the devil as we, in faith, call upon the name of the Lord.

Consider praying this prayer…

Heavenly Father, we ask You to help us make prayer a daily part of our lives, and we thank You for teaching us this simple prayer. Thank You for giving us an instruction manual for how we can be more like You in every way. We pray that Your precious Holy Spirit would reveal to us the areas where we need help, where we can change, and where we can be better followers of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

     I encourage you to commit the Lord’s Prayer to your memory and begin to pray it out loud on a regular basis. As you say it aloud, I believe you can begin to see how it applies to different areas of your life, and you can talk to God more specifically about the issues that concern you personally. I set my faith with you in Jesus’ name, believing that you can begin to grow more and more in the areas that Jesus brings to your attention in the Lord’s Prayer.