Prayer can sometimes feel complicated. We wonder what to say, how to begin or whether we’re doing it right. When Jesus taught His followers to pray, He gave them more than words to repeat. In the Lord’s Prayer, He gave them a pattern for living in daily relationship with God.
This simple outline of the Lord’s Prayer, adapted from an illuminate church study guide, walks through it one line at a time. Each line reminds us who God is, what He wants for us and how we can depend on Him in every part of life.
If you only have a minute:
- Our Father in heaven. God’s names are God’s promises.
- Your kingdom come. Find righteousness, peace and joy for yourself, your family and your nation.
- Our daily bread. Daily provision comes from daily interaction with God.
- Forgive us as we forgive. God works through those who work like He does.
- Deliver us from the evil one. Stand your ground in the armor God gives.
What is the Lord’s Prayer?
The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer Jesus taught His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 6. It is short enough to memorize and deep enough to pray for a lifetime. Here it is in the New International Version (NIV):
"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'" (Matthew 6:9-13)
"Hallowed" means treated as holy. You can read the prayer in context on Bible Gateway. Notice that Jesus said "how you should pray," not only "what you should pray." It is a pattern, not just a script.
An outline of the Lord’s Prayer, line by line
1. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name": God’s names are God’s promises
Prayer begins with the character of God. Throughout the Old Testament, God reveals Himself through names. Each one shows us what He is like, and each one carries a promise:
- Jehovah Tsidkenu: God promises salvation.
- Jehovah M’Kaddesh: God promises sanctification (making us holy).
- Jehovah Shalom: God promises peace.
- Jehovah Shammah: God promises His presence.
- Jehovah Rophe: God promises healing.
- Jehovah Jireh: God promises to provide.
- Jehovah Rohi: God promises to shepherd (Psalm 23).
- Jehovah Nissi: God promises victory.
God’s names are more than descriptions. They remind us of His promises. When we pray "Our Father in heaven," we are speaking to the God who saves, makes holy, gives peace, stays close, heals, provides, shepherds and gives victory.
2. "Your kingdom come, your will be done": the good stuff
What is God’s kingdom like? Romans 14:17 gives a simple answer:
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17)
Praying for His kingdom to come means asking for righteousness, peace and joy for yourself, for your family and for your nation. We invite God’s will into our decisions, relationships, homes, workplaces and communities. We surrender what we want and trust that His plans are better. This part of the prayer isn’t passive. It is a willingness to let God work through us so the life of heaven becomes visible here on earth.
3. "Give us today our daily bread": all you can eat
This line is about living in the daily abundance of God. Jesus teaches us to ask for what we need today, because God wants a daily relationship with us. You will have daily provision when you have daily interaction with God.
That provision comes in two ways. Spiritually, God feeds us through His Word. Physically, He provides as we faithfully steward (wisely manage) the resources He has placed in our hands. God’s abundance isn’t always having everything we want. It is having what we need to follow Him today.
4. "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors": a candidate for the supernatural
God works through those who work like He does. Through confession of sin and repentance (turning away from sin and back to God), we bring our lives honestly before Him and receive the forgiveness Jesus made possible. Then, because we have been forgiven, we can offer that same grace to others.
This is where the supernatural becomes practical. You might pray it like this: "Today I am going to live with the evidence of salvation. Allow me opportunities to use the same power on the earth with which You saved me." Our lives become evidence of the salvation we have received.
5. "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one": stand your ground
This last line teaches us how to flee temptation and be delivered from evil. We don’t face temptation in our own strength. God gives us spiritual armor:
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:14-17)
These aren’t abstract ideas. They are daily protection for real-life battles. When temptation comes, we can stand our ground because God is our strength. Psalm 28:7 says it well (this verse is from the English Standard Version, ESV):
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped." (Psalm 28:7)
For more on the battle behind temptation, read three tricks the devil uses against you and how to defeat them.
What this means for you
This prayer is an invitation to experience abundant life with God. Remember His character, surrender to His will, trust Him for today, receive and extend forgiveness, and stand firm in His strength.
How to pray the Lord’s Prayer every day
Take a few minutes today to pray through each line slowly. Pause after each one and bring God your real needs, relationships, struggles and decisions. Start with one of His names and thank Him for that promise. Ask for His kingdom in one specific place in your life. Ask for today’s bread. Name someone you need to forgive. Then put on the armor of God before you head into your day.
You don’t need perfect words. Simply begin with your Father and trust Him with what comes next. If you’d like another simple rhythm for prayer, explore the STRONG prayer method. You can also read how your identity in Christ changes the way you pray and how to hear God.
Wherever you are today, there is a next step. If you want to know more about who Jesus is, start here. If you need someone to pray with you, reach out to our prayer and care team. And if you live near Kissimmee, Florida, we would love to see you on a Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Lord’s Prayer
Where is the Lord’s Prayer in the Bible?
Jesus teaches it in Matthew 6:9-13, as part of the Sermon on the Mount.
What is a simple outline of the Lord’s Prayer?
Our Father in heaven: God’s names are God’s promises. Your kingdom come: righteousness, peace and joy. Daily bread: daily provision from daily time with God. Forgive us: God works through those who work like He does. Deliver us: stand your ground in God’s armor.
What does "hallowed be your name" mean?
"Hallowed" means treated as holy. Praying it honors God for who He is, and His names in Scripture remind us of His promises.
Is it okay to pray the Lord’s Prayer word for word?
Yes. Jesus said, "This, then, is how you should pray" (Matthew 6:9). You can pray the words as written, or use each line as a pattern to guide your own prayer.
