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A Prayer using the Lord’s Prayer

By Gerry Straker, 28 Oct 2025

A Prayer using the Lord’s Prayer

A Prayer using the Lord’s Prayer


Adapted from the Heidelberg Catechism Questions 120-129

Our Father

As we call to you in prayer, we express our childlike reverence and trust
that through Christ you O God have become our Father,
You will much less refuse to give us what we ask in faith
than will our parents refuse us the things of this life.1

Who is in heaven

You have all heavenly majesty
And almighty power
and give us everything needed for body and soul.

Hallowed be your name

Help us to truly know you,
to honour, glorify, and praise you
    for all your works
    and for all that shines forth from them:
        your almighty power, wisdom, kindness,
        justice, mercy, and truth.
Help us to direct all our living—
    what we think, say, and do—
so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us
but always honoured and praised.

Your kingdom come

Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way
that more and more we submit to you.
Preserve and increase your church
Destroy the devil’s work;
    destroy every force which revolts against you
    and every conspiracy against your holy Word.
Do all this until your kingdom fully comes,
when you will be all in alL.  

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Help us and all people
        to renounce our own wills
        and without any back talk to obey your will,
        for it alone is good.1
Help everyone carry out his office and calling,
as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

Provide for all our physical needs
    so that we may recognize
          that you are the only source of everything good,
          and that neither our care and work
          nor your gifts
          can do us any good without your blessing.

Therefore may we withdraw our trust from all creatures
and place it in you alone.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us

Because of Christ’s blood,
        do not impute to us, poor sinners that we are,
        any of the transgressions we do
        or the evil that constantly clings to us.

Forgive us just as we are fully determined,
    as evidence of your grace in us,
    wholeheartedly to forgive our neighbours

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

We are so weak that we cannot stand
on our own for a moment,
and our sworn enemies—
    the devil, the world, and our own flesh 
    never stop attacking us.

     

And so, Lord,
    uphold us and make us strong
          by the power of your Holy Spirit,
    so that we may not be defeated
          in this spiritual fight,
    but may firmly resist our enemies
          until we finally win the complete victory.

For the kingdom
    and the power
    and the glory are yours
    now and forever.

We have made all these petitions of you
    because, as our all-powerful king,
        you are both willing and able
        to give us all that is good;
    and because your holy name,
        and not we ourselves,
    should receive all the praise, forever.

Amen

This shall truly and surely be! 

For it is much more certain
    that you O God have heard our prayers
    than we feel in our hearts
    that we desire such things from You!

Amen!