Is there a best time to pray? How does Jesus' prayer change the way we see what to ask for and expect from God, and what life with him is all about? Liz and Greg Nixon share their experience of the Lord’s Prayer through Lent.

“but deliver us from the evil one.” (NIV)

“but keep us safe from the Evil One.” (Good News)

Liz Nixon writes:

This verse reminds me that we are in a battle – whilst the war has been won and the victory belongs to Jesus, the devil is still fighting with dirty tactics for every scrap of land he can hold onto. The Bible says the devil is the father of all lies and that he comes to steal, kill and destroy. Asking God to deliver us from the evil one is about the moments of making choices that turn me towards life in all its fullness, or away from God and towards the destruction that is wreaked by the devil.

Galatians 6 says exactly this “The one who sows to please his sinful nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit , from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” We clearly have to take responsibility for the choices we make and the direction it results in.

By asking God to keep us safe or deliver us from the evil one, we acknowledge our dependence on God and His protection whilst also playing our part with what we do. From now on when I pray, I will hold at the front of my mind that this is an active battle and ask Him to keep me safe and give me wisdom to make lifegiving choices.

“And lead us not into temptation” (NIV)

“Do not bring us to hard testing” (Good News)

Greg Nixon writes:

I quite often pause at “and lead us...”, to ask that my Father would lead me into what is good, to lead me in His ways, in His wisdom; before then continuing “…not into temptation”. Writing this reminds me I should remember to broaden my focus: it’s not just about God leading me, but about Him leading all of us. Our strength and prayers can support others through their trials, and vice-versa.

God’s guidance comes in many ways and from many people, and is more available than I realise. I sometimes forget that all wisdom comes from God. This leads to self-reliance – thinking my own natural inclination to discuss, debate and question things will lead me the right way – when by taking the time to pause and listen I may see God leading in a different direction, and notice or hear things that challenge my preconceived view.

“Temptation” here is the Greek πειρασμόν (pei-ras-mon), which can translate as trial, testing, temptation, affliction or calamity. So if I’m going my own way – ignoring or unaware of God’s leading – then I shouldn’t be surprised if I find myself in one of these situations.

How much better to seek out and follow the way of our brother Jesus, whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light? As we are encouraged by Peter in 2 Peter 1v5-8, let us make every effort to supplement our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love, that we may be effective and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (NIV)

“Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.” (Good News)

Greg Nixon writes:

I’ve grown up with the version of this prayer “forgive us our sins”, but increasingly I find “debts” a helpful word, as pretty much everyone can relate to being in debt, or to having lent money to someone else. Debt can cripple, and we may have experienced the freedom, the lifting of great weight from our shoulders when a debt is cancelled or paid off, or when we finish making monthly payments.

Which hopefully makes it hit home that bit more, when Jesus calls us to forgive others if they owe us something, or if we feel they owe us something. By forgiving, we lift a double burden – the one we have placed on their shoulders, and the one we have been carrying around with us. I’m also reminded of “let no debt remain outstanding, except for the continuing debt to love one another” (Romans 13v8), and when “if we are at the altar and remember our brother or sister has something against us, we are to go back [miles home from the altar in Jerusalem!] and be reconciled to them, only then returning to offer our gift” (Matthew 5v23-24).

As God’s daughters and sons, we are called both to make peace and to forgive. And as God’s sons and daughters, we realise and celebrate that we ourselves have been released from the greatest debt, into the greatest freedom.

“Give us today our daily bread.” (NIV)

“Give us today the food we need.” (Good News)

Greg Nixon says:

This reminds me of George Muller, who over his lifetime cared for many thousands of orphans in Bristol during the 1800s. There are many stories of God’s daily provision, and of George’s prayerful and daily reliance on God to provide for their daily bread – at times down to the minute. On one day when they had run out of food, the children waiting at breakfast, George prayed and thanked God for the breakfast He was confident God would provide; there was a knock at the door, and a baker was standing outside with a big loaf of bread – having been prompted by God the night before to bake more than usual and bring it to George!

Liz Nixon says:

When I pray this short and simple line, I’m reminded that we are encouraged to ask for what we need for today. Later, Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, for today has its own cares. Both of these verses focus on today, the here and now rather than the future. And I think that’s a really good place to live!

It encourages me to make the most of the generosity God has shown me in my life by being thankful that I do have so much and by being generous to others. It’s important for me to remember that everything I have comes from God and that depending on Him for all things in life, whether it’s the essentials, the luxuries, the small things or the big things, is how I want to live each and every day. This line inspires both gratitude and dependence on God within my prayer life.

“your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (NIV)

“may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Good News)

Liz Nixon writes:

What does the Kingdom of God look like? That’s a question I’ve been thinking about recently, having received a couple of Dallas Willard books for my birthday. I think we need to know what it looks like in order to really mean “Your Kingdom come” when we pray. And I think it looks very much like each of the next days’ titles – the Kingdom of God coming is Him providing for my needs, the forgiveness of sins, receiving His guidance through the leading of His Holy Spirit, and His protection.

The kingdom is all these things, but there’s even more to it! The Kingdom is righteousness, joy, and peace; it is no more tears; it’s about reconciliation; it is death no longer having the last word; it is life to the full - an abundant, thriving life. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Don’t you want that kind of Kingdom to come in your life? In our city? In our nation?

Dallas Willard says that the right vision of the kingdom isn’t just about being “theologically accurate”. Having a correct, Jesus centred view of the kingdom “will awaken tremendous desire”. And that’s because the kingdom is just soooooo good! It’s your most imaginative, creative, joy-filled hopes multiplied by several billion!

When I pray “Your Kingdom come” from now on, I will have an expanded, better understanding of what His Kingdom coming means – desire has been awoken in me and I want it to come now! Your Kingdom come Father!

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…” (New International Version)

“Our Father in heaven: may your holy name be honoured…” (Good News Bible)

Greg Nixon writes:

“Our” and “Father”. Two short words that could be said in less than a second, or instead pondered for many minutes. There is an amazing context to “Our” that can take you from thinking of your family, to those facing trouble or persecution, to those whom we’d love to follow Jesus, or to those where we realise the need to patch things up, get in touch, encourage or support. This is a very connecting, relational prayer.

After consciously pressing into God-as-my-Father in the last couple of years, I’ll generally pray to my “Father” in public. But on my own it’s “Dad”. I find this freeing, familiar, and less formal – making it easier to be real about my thoughts, issues and hopes. My Dad knows me: He has created me and watches me grow, He knows how I choose, how I speak, how I go – He knows the way I’ll turn, what I care about, what worries me, what makes me sing. So, I’m turning to the One who knows my depths and my shallows, and who consciously adopted me as His own – that’s my Dad.

Liz Nixon writes:

When I pray the first line, I’m reminded of how much God has done in me and my heart to secure in me the knowledge that I am His beloved daughter. And it’s not just head knowledge – He’s rooted it deeply in my heart and it’s transformed the way I view Him and the way I live each day. Remembering that naturally leads me into praising and worshipping Him for His kindness in adopting me into His family. I’ve also recently started praying to Him as “Abba” – it’s a much more intimate term and in the Hebrew language and Jewish culture, is what a young child calls their Dad - it's effectively saying "Daddy". For me, it’s about stepping away from my independent streak and saying to myself and to God that He fills that role of strength, security, provision, protection and love in my life. Starting my prayers with “Abba” or Father reminds me whose I am and who I am and it’s this that then defines each day.