The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer is an essential instruction in prayer itself.

This prayer forms us as children of our heavenly Father and as brothers and sisters in Christ. It teaches us to seek first the will of God and His Kingdom rather than our own desires and self-centered goals. In praying for our “daily” bread, we are not only expressing our dependance on God’s mercy for ordinary sustenance but most of all for the supernational Heavenly Bread that can transform us to become Christ’s Body on earth. By asking forgiveness for our own sins, we are reminded of our simultaneous obligation to forgive others. Finally, we pray to be delivered from all influence of temptation and evil lest we fail the test and succumb to sin.

In addition to the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus also taught us to pray specifically for the Holy Spirit.

Any other prayer is subordinate to these petitions.