Pray like this... –Matthew 6:9a
We could recite/pray the Lord’s Prayer in our sleep. That’s a reflection of how important it is to us. And that’s also why we take it for granted and gloss over the words without letting them impact us.
So, how about making it the foundation for a personal devotion that you write yourself? How about rewriting it using your own faith and reflections?
Here’s my attempt.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. You created us with a love and wisdom so much greater than ours. We’re grateful that you’re God and we’re not. When we say your name we’re honoring just how great you are.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Consequently, we want what you want, and we want earth to conform to how we envision heaven: where you are honored and praised totally.
Give us this day our daily bread. We rely on you totally for life–from our bodies to the world and people around us.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. We’re sorry for our failures to put you first. We’re sorry for our tackiness, and that helps us understand and empathize when people are tacky to us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Help us not fall into the trap of making ourselves the center of things, forgetting that it’s your kingdom, not ours, that we pledge allegiance to.
For thine is the kingdom, power, and glory forever. Amen! As we began this prayer, so we end it–we love, honor, and obey you our creator, whose face we see in Jesus.