Vineyard Evensong Part 2
The Lord’s Prayer is the next element we will be discussing as we look at the Vineyard Evensong liturgy service. The Lord’s Prayer is actually read twice during the service. We need to take care to not just say the words of the Lord’s Prayer by rote and miss the deeper meaning of the prayer. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He responds with what we know as the Lord’s prayer. It was not given just as something to simply repeat over and over. Jesus presents it as more of a model to get connected to God in prayer. Each verse helps us to focus on God, who He is, and who we are in Him.
Luke 11:1-4
1 When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”
Most of us are more familiar with Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer.
Matthew 6:9-13
9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
As you read and say the Lord’s Prayer in the Daily Office, it should cause you to begin to consider some of the deeper prayer needs that you have for the day, so that you are prepared to journal your prayer requests and thoughts in the Disciple’s Heart Primer.
Matthew 6:9 is a reminder that God is a loving Father. “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
We tell Him we love Him. We thank Him for who He is and for what He has done.
Matthew 6:10 is a reminder that we are to try and live by doing the next right thing. your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
We pray that we would make Godly choices and decisions in our moment by moment lives. That it is His will in our lives, not our own.
Matthew 6:11 is a reminder that He provides for our needs (physical, spiritual, relational and eternal). Give us today our daily bread.
We pray for the needs of our families, friends, communities, country and our own needs.
Matthew 6:12 is a reminder of the importance of forgiveness in our lives. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
We spend time in prayer forgiving those who have sinned against us and asking for forgiveness for our sins.
Matthew 6:13 is a reminder for us to avoid temptation and remember that we are in a spiritual battle. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
