How to Have New Hope When You Pray the Lord’s Prayer
I’ve had two times in my life when I found myself in situations that appeared hopeless.
They were times when God’s “no” to my perceived “need” seemed like more than I could endure.
The first time, I whined and stomped my feet like a spoiled child and then I listened to the lies of this world that were telling me I needed to take matters into my own hands and do what I needed to get the “yes” I so desperately wanted.
Getting what I longed for was thrilling. I was blissful and even managed to convince myself that this was really God’s will for me all along.
Sadly, the happiness didn’t last and the loss was greater than I could have imagined.
Which led me to my second bout with feelings of hopelessness…
But this time, rather than whining and stomping … I grieved.
And God met me there, in my grief. He held me close as He comforted me and pointed me to His Word and prayer.
He reminded me that He was with me.
“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b
And that He wanted me to have a new hope.
I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
It was that new hope that helped me surrender my heart and mind to God’s will for my future. He didn’t remove my grief but He helped me get through it moment by moment.
And one of the things that continues to help me is the new hope I enjoy when I pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Let’s take a closer look…
How to Have New Hope When You Pray the Lord’s Prayer
♥ Our Father in Heaven
Something I had to learn was the intimate nature of the relationship God wanted with me. He wasn’t calling Himself my Father simply as the authority in my life … although, He certainly is that.
He is my Father in a personal, loving, caring, I want to be involved in your life, know your feelings, comfort you, encourage you, guide you, and so much more way.
Praying “Our Father” is going into the Holy of Holies … into the presence of the One who loves you and me most and best. The One who not only sees our future but who is already there. The One who is our strength for today and hope for tomorrow.
King David said this about him:
“I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts His praises! My body rests in hope.” Acts 2:25–26
♥ Holy Be Your Name
God’s name is holy whether you and I say it or not!
God is set apart, perfect and holy in everything He does. When you and I pray, “holy be Your name,” we are asking God to help us live in a way that professes Him as the one and only Lord of our lives.
In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone. Psalm 33:21–22
When we live to declare God holy, we are saying we trust Him and trusting Him gives us hope!
♥ Your Kingdom Come
I am so often overwhelmed in this earthly kingdom. I watch the news and scroll through social media and it’s upsetting. I watch friends and family suffer and my heart hurts. So much of this life is hard.
The words “Your kingdom come,” remind me that this is not my home. By God’s grace, through Jesus, you and I have hope for a forever future beyond the chaos, pain, and heartache. A forever future in God’s kingdom because Jesus defeated sin, death, and Satan through His life, death, and resurrection.
Jesus proved to the world that He is the Way to the Father and the Truth that gives Eternal Life.
For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:13–14
♥ And Your Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven
God’s will is always done in heaven and ultimately His will and purposes are also accomplished on earth.
Praying that God’s will be done on earth, is asking that He might use us in His plans and purposes. That you and I will be a part of His will being accomplished. We know His will is that we will love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love others as well. By His grace and with His help, that gives us His help and a hope for every relationship.
This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and He has commanded us to love one another. 2 John 1:5–6
♥ Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
I love this!
God invites us to come to Him with our daily needs, trusting that He will take care of today’s necessities and faithfully remembering that He is our hope for tomorrow.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7
♥ Forgive Us Our Sins as We Forgive Those Who Sin Against Us
You and I are able to forgive others because God faithfully forgives us.
When you and I humbly go to God asking Him for forgiveness … He will! And when I think about all that God has forgiven in me, well, I have His strength to forgive others.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31–32
Knowing that I’m forgiven and that God gives me all I need to forgive others – that gives me hope for all my relationship today and eternally!
♥ Lead Us Not Into Temptation but Deliver Us from Evil
God does not tempt us.
However, you and I live in a sinful world that is full of temptations and evil. By God’s grace, and with His help, you and I have everything we need to withstand temptation and evil today…
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13
With God’s help, we can turn our focus from this world’s temptations and ugliness and plant it squarely on the One who is able to give us the strength we need right now!
♥ For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory Forever
Many of us end the Lord’s prayer with this doxology of praise.
Our Father is powerful and sovereign. All glory belongs to Him forever and ever!
King David wrote:
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God! Psalm 42:5
♥ Amen
Amen says, “so be it” or “this is true!”
It is the ending to a prayer said in faith!
So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you. Mark 11:24 (NCV)
And that is praying with new hope, trusting that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.
When you and I pray the Lord’s Prayer our hope is renewed as we remember who God is. He is our Father, the sovereign God who loves and cares for us today and has a beautiful plan for our future.
So I pray the Lord’s Prayer when my heart and mind are discouraged … when I need new hope, I pray the prayer Jesus taught and I remember all the ways God has helped me in the past.
Leave your prayer requests…
and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.
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Deb, I love, love, love the way you took these individual phrases from the Lord’s Prayer and filled them with such meaning and depth. You’ve certainly encouraged me to pray these words in this way from here on out.
Blessings!
Oh, thank you so much, Martha! You are such a blessing! I hope you’re enjoying the beginning of a beautiful week! God bless you, my friend!
This is a truly helpful and insprational writing. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and love. God Bless.
Thank you for your kind encouragement, Cindy! It is so kind of you! God bless you!
Deb, thank you for this post on the Lords Prayer. It’s right on.
Several years ago I believe God was leading me to start praying the Lord’s Prayer. Some people have said the prayer is a pattern to use. I was lead to pray it verbatim, except I add that ‘His will be done on earth’ in the specific lives of those in my life. Some days I pray it when I feel good about myself. Other days I pray when my sin has failed Him.
I have come to understand that we need to stay connected to Him in prayer even when we sin because sin doesn’t necessarily cause God to distance himself from us, but more so, sin causes us to distance ourselves from Him. That is the time we need to come before Him and continue to invite Him into our lives and to live through us. God has already paid for our sin. What’s left is to follow Him.
Stevenr
Thank you for adding this, Steven! I so appreciate it! I love that the Lord’s Prayer reminds me of who God is and who I am under His care. I like the way you say… “sin doesn’t necessarily cause God to distance himself from us, but more so, sin causes us to distance ourselves from Him.” When I pray forgive me my sins as I forgive… I’m quickly humbled and thankful! God bless you!
The simplicity (and intricacy) of the Lord’s Prayer is so often overlooked. I love that God always knows exactly how to meet me where I am. Thank you for this ????
Great post Deb!
The Lord’s prayer encompasses so much, doesn’t it… We can see why Jesus gave this as an example for us 😀
Blessings,
Jennifer
The Lord’s Prayer is one of my absolute favorites. I can remember when we used to say it every day in school. Yes, that was a long time ago! 🙂
I love to split this pattern prayer apart and it really gives much more depth than a group of phrases that become meaningless. Thanks for this post!
Love this! We just finished a word by word study of The Lord’s Prayer as a part of my Word Nerd Wednesday series! So encouraging! Blessings to you!
Ahhhhh – again your words point me to whatever is true and worthy of praise … thank you deb. My heart sings ????????
Oh, thank you, Bonnie! I am so very blessed by your kind encouragement! God bless you today!