How to Pray the Lord's Prayer: A Daily Meditation Guide

In our daily meditations, we are reflecting on Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, especially the prayer He gave His disciples in Matthew 6:9-11. This prayer can serve as a pattern for our own prayer lives. Yesterday, we looked at its first two parts; today, we will consider the remaining three.

 

3) Praying for Daily Provision and Wisdom

Scripture: “Give us today the bread we need for today.” (Matthew 6:11)

a) At this point in prayer, thank God for providing for you and your family. Then pray about your work, through which He meets your needs, and ask for wisdom and direction as you serve Him.

b) Recall God’s promises of blessing and ask Him to broaden your influence and open doors for His provision.

c) Ask God for specific guidance in using your time, energy, and money for His kingdom. Stay open to His prompting to support others materially.

4) Finding Freedom Through Biblical Forgiveness

Scripture: “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)

This part of our prayer time turns our attention to living in right relationship with God and with others. The Lord connects our forgiveness to our willingness to forgive. When God’s grace reaches deep into our hearts, it overflows in forgiveness toward others, releasing them from what we feel they owe us. If we cannot forgive from the heart, we have not yet fully grasped what it cost God to forgive us.

a) As you ask God to forgive your debts, invite Him to examine your life and be fully honest about your sins. David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts” (Psalm 139:23).

b) Confess your faults to God and ask for specific ways to overcome your sinful nature. Job described one such resolve: “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl” (Job 31:1). Like Job, choose practical steps that help you resist sin.

c) During this time of reflection, ask God to show you anyone you have not forgiven. Ask Him to help you forgive sincerely from the heart and pray for His blessing on those He brings to mind.

5) Spiritual Warfare and Protection from Temptation

Scripture: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

a) Ask God to deliver you from every occult influence or curse directed at you because of your desire to live in a way that pleases Him.

b) Pray that God will clothe you with His armor: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet ready to carry the gospel of peace, the shield of faith to extinguish the evil one’s flaming arrows, the helmet of salvation to guard your mind, and the sword of the Spirit—His Word—working in and through you (Ephesians 6:13-17).

c) Pray that when temptation and trials test your faith, you will stand firm and refuse to compromise.

Concluding Your Daily Prayer

Conclude your time of prayer with an acknowledgment of the One you live for and to whom you are committed. Finish with a song or a psalm of praise.

Prayer: Father, please continue teaching us how to live free from every occult strategy against my family and me. Amen. Keith Thomas

Daily Application: How to Put This into Practice Today

Reading about prayer changes our minds, but practicing it changes our lives. Choose one of these three actionable steps to focus on today:

1.     The Provision Journal: Write down three things you are stressing about financially or logistically today. Hand them over to God specifically, asking for "today's bread" rather than worrying about next month.

2.     The Forgiveness Inventory: Sit quietly for two minutes with a blank piece of paper. Ask God, "Is there anyone I am holding a debt against?" If a name comes to mind, write it down, pray for God to bless them, and consciously choose to let go of the grudge.

3.     An Armor of God Walk: Before you leave the house or start your workday, mentally "put on" each piece of armor mentioned in Ephesians 6. Visualize the helmet guarding your thoughts and the shield stopping negative words or temptations throughout the day.

Continue Your Journey…

For more encouragement, consider bookmarking this page: Browse our free 3-minute Bible Meditations

This meditation is adapted from the complete study: The Heavenly Rewards of the Believer.