"Our Father which art in heaven"

     The mystery of redemption - Jesus delivering us from the curse that we might become the children of God.
 

"Hallowed be Thy Name"

     This puts the focus on God.  In true worship the Father must be first.  I must forget myself in the desire that HE may be glorified.
 

"Thy Kingdom come"

     The Father is a king and has a kingdom.  The children of the Father are here in the enemy's territory, where the kingdom, which is in heaven, is not yet fully manifested.
 

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"

     In heaven God's will is done.  Wherever faith has accepted the Father's love, obedience accepts the Father's will.  The surrender to, and the prayer for a life of heaven-like obedience, is the spirit of childlike prayer.
 

"Give us this day our daily bread"

     We may in full confidence say:  Father, I live for Your honor and Your work; I know You care for me.  Consecration to God and His will gives wonderful liberty in prayer for temporal things:  the whole earthly life is given to the Father's loving care.
 

"And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us"

     As bread is the first need of the body, forgiveness is for the soul.  We are children, but sinners too; our right of access to the Father's presence we owe to the precious blood of Jesus and the forgiveness that it has gotten for us.  Beware of the prayer for forgiveness becoming a formality.  Only what is really confessed is really forgiven.  Such forgiveness as a living experience is impossible without a forgiving spirit to others.  In each prayer to the Father I must be able to say that I know of no one whom I do not love.
 

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one"

     Our daily bread, the pardon of our sins, and then our being kept from all sin and the power of the evil one, in these three petitions all our personal need is understood.  The prayer for bread and pardon must be accompanied by the surrender to live in all things in holy obedience to the Father's will and to believe that everything will be kept by the power of the indwelling Spirit from the power of the evil one.
 

     This is how Jesus would have us to pray to the Father in heaven.  Let His Name, and kingdom, and will, have the first place in our love.  His providing, and pardoning, and keeping love will be our sure reward.
 
 

      Jesus, You who are the only begotten Son, teach us to pray 'Our Father.'  We thank You Lord for these living blessed words which You have given us.  We thank You for the millions who in them have learned to know and worship the Father.  Lord, it is as if we needed days and weeks in Your school with each separate petition because they are so deep.  But we look to You to lead us deeper into their meaning.  Lord Jesus, reveal the Father to us.  Let His name, His infinite Father-love, the love with which He loved You, be in us.  Then can we say 'Our Father, Your Name, Your Kingdom, Your Will.'  And we shall bring our needs and our sins and our temptations to Him in the confidence that the love of such a Father cares for all.  Amen