The Lord’s Prayer: Reflection VI

The Lord’s Prayer with Emphasis Placed on

“And forgive us our debts.”

This sixth reflection on the Lord’s Prayer turns our eyes toward the Father’s immeasurable love and how he has forgiven us for our sins.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. – All praise to you, Father, for even though your divine justice requires that we receive a sentence of death for our sinful nature and behavior you offer forgiveness for our sins through faith in your Son Jesus.

Your kingdom come, (on earth as it is in heaven). – Thank you, Father, that your kingdom, both in heaven and on earth, is built upon a foundation of your grace and forgiveness offering citizenship to all who humble themselves, repent of their sins, and embrace your Son Jesus and his righteousness.

Your will be done, (on earth as it is in heaven). – Praise to you, Father, for actively pursuing your fallen children, even to the face of the earth, when you sent your son, Jesus, to show the way of righteousness, repentance, and forgiveness.

Give us this day our daily bread, – Father, accept my daily offering of repentance and, in return, I ask that you would provide me with the daily assurance of your forgiveness.

As we also have forgiven our debtors. – Help me, Father, to show the same love to others that you have shown me by forgiving all others any debts owed to me, be they material or spiritual debts.

And lead us not into temptation, – Help me, Father, to avoid a growing familiarity with sin and the desensitization that creeps into my heart and blinds my eyes to any and every moral failure in my life. Grant me the willingness to confess my sins to you and repent from my sinful ways.

But deliver us from evil. – Father, keep me from hearing, accepting, and speaking the lie that calls evil good. Forgive me, Father, for those many times when I have embraced evil and rationalized my thoughts, words, and actions.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. – All praise to you Father, for welcoming the repentant into your eternally powerful and glorious kingdom. Thank you, Father, for your love, grace, and mercy, and that they work their way into our lives because of and through your unmerited forgiveness of our sins.