On Day 23 I thought and wrote about how prayer “works” differently than we think it does. Today, I am reflecting on every line of the Our Father. I learned in my reading that when the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray, this is the one and only time they specifically ask to be taught something. That’s something to think about. They were the ones who followed Jesus and they wanted more information on how to talk to his father/their heavenly father. Much had changed since the times of Moses, I guess, when God’s followers just barreled ahead and said whatever they were thinking.

We can pray all of our words, not just the scripted ones. Bianco Olthoff posted a beautiful graphic on prayer last week. (See it here.) It says: Prayers work even when they are short, weak & poorly worded. So they don’t have to be fancy. But there is something about a prayer like the Our Father that brings a sense of reverence, that harkens back to when Jesus actually walked the earth. Plus, they’re the words Jesus said to start with when we don’t know where to start. And it is often that I don’t know where to start in anything.

So what does each line of the Our Father mean for me? I don’t know, let’s find out together…

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Our Father
[Our = He is not just my Father, which means not only is He working everything for my good but also for all of His other children. Sometimes someone else’s good impedes on what I consider good. But he is OUR father, not just MY father.]
[Father = He leads, guides, loves, gives, and takes away, among many, many other things.]

Who art in Heaven
[Heaven is where He sits, his ultimate reigning locale. I know the book of Revelations gives us specifics on what heaven will look like. I often say that heaven smells like pasta, rice, and chocolate chip cookies. But really, it’s the place where there is no darkness, no yuckiness, no hurt. Not only is it our reward for enduring earth, but it’s all that and more because God and Jesus are there.]

Hallowed be thy name
[His name is reverent and holy, meant to be respected and revered.]

Thy Kingdom come
[I know the Bible talks about us forcefully advancing the kingdom, I also know that we, as Christ followers, are invited to bring heaven to earth for those around us.]

Thy will be done
[As often as I act like I’m in control, I know I’m not. And honestly, I don’t want my way to be the way. A creator who has written the entire story definitely has a better idea than I do. Most definitely.]

On earth as it is in heaven.
[Here where I live, remaining faithful and keeping a faithful heart gives me the chance to experience God’s love here on this broken planet. That sounds beautiful, comforting, true, and just like the most lovely thing.]

Give us this day
[This is what I’m asking for today. Tomorrow I will again go before Him. I know he’s given me this day, that the present is a gift from God.]

Our daily bread
[The sustainment I need for today. There are new mercies every morning, new energy each morning.]

And forgive us our trespasses
[Please forgive me for the not-so-nice thoughts and actions I’ve thought or displayed.]

As we forgive those who trespass against us
[The strength to forgive those who hurt us comes from you, a divine intervention we otherwise would not have the strength for.]

And lead us not into temptation
[I want all the things but I know all the things aren’t good for me. Lead me into what’s good for me, not into that which tempts me but is not good for me.]

But deliver us from evil.
[The things that we categorize under “tempts me” are rarely good for our minds, bodies, or souls. Whether or not what tempts you is actually bad for you is a conversation to have between you and God. But I know that when I’m tempted to do or say something (usually it’s a tempting of words for me), it always ends better when I gut check it, when I ask Lord, should I say this? That way he can deliver me from whatever absurd thing I am about to say.]

[These next 4 lines are only part of some Bible translations, but I didn’t know that until late last year because apparently the versions I’ve always read have included it.]

For thine is the kingdom
[He reigns, end of story. It is his story—beginning, middle and end—and I am grateful to be a part of it. I live in his story, I have my own story for his glory, for his kingdom.]

And the power
[He is mighty to save, eager to rescue. He’s the strongest, the most indominable, the most sturdy.]

And the glory
[I started my podcast because of two strong thoughts that came to me. They bolted into my heart like lightening, never left, and let me know they were there to make a foundation for a new life. 1: Your pain is not for you; and 2: Praise Through Postpartum. God let me know over the course of a few months that I was to use my story of trauma and grief to help other women. My story, his glory. That’s what that means.]

Now and forever.
[In my daily grind and in the reward of eternity.]

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That was actually a fun exercise! If you do it, too, I’d love for you to share it with me! If you type it out, copy & paste it into an email to hello@elisapreston.com. If you write it out, take a picture and either email it or tag me on IG (elisapreston). I’d love to see your own reflections of the Our Father and how each lines resonates in your heart.

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