How to pray
How to pray the Lord's Prayer, line by line, as a model for your own prayers
· 3 min read
How to pray the Lord's Prayer line by line, what each part means, and how to use it as a model for your own daily prayers, with an example for each line.
To pray the Lord’s Prayer, you can say it word for word, or take it one line at a time and pray each line in your own words. Jesus gave it as a pattern for prayer: it starts with God’s name, kingdom and will, then asks for daily needs, forgiveness and protection. Praying through it slowly gives shape to the rest of your prayers.
What is the Lord’s Prayer?
The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer Jesus taught His disciples when they asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1, ESV). It appears in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. In Matthew, Jesus introduces it with “Pray then like this” (Matthew 6:9, ESV), which means it’s both a prayer to pray and a model for how to pray.
The words in Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV):
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day 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 evil.
How to pray the Lord’s Prayer line by line
Take one line at a time. Say it, then stay there and pray in your own words before moving on.
“Our Father in heaven”
Start with who you’re talking to. God is your Father because of Jesus, and He is in heaven, over everything. Example: “Father, thank You that I can come to You as Your child. You’re in heaven, and nothing today is out of Your hands.”
“Hallowed be your name”
Ask that God would be honored, in the world and in you. Example: “Let Your name be honored in my home, my work and my words today.”
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”
Pray for God’s rule to spread, and give Him your own plans. Example: “Bring Your kingdom to our city. Draw my neighbor Sam to You. I give You my plans for this week. Do what You want with them.”
“Give us this day our daily bread”
Ask for what you need today: food, work, health, strength. This is where your prayer list fits. Example: “Give us what we need today. Provide work for Ben. Give Michael strength as he recovers.”
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”
Confess specific sins and forgive the people who have hurt you. Example: “Forgive me for how I spoke to my wife last night. Help me forgive my coworker, and let it go.”
For more on this part, see how to pray for someone who hurt you.
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
Ask for protection and strength where you are weak. Example: “Keep me from the places I’m weak today. Protect my family from evil, and keep us close to You.”
Many Christians close with “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen,” a line found in some later manuscripts of Matthew.
Why use the Lord’s Prayer as a model?
The Lord’s Prayer keeps prayer in the right order. It starts with God before it gets to us, and it covers more than we would on our own: worship, the world, daily needs, sin, and protection. It also keeps prayers short. Jesus said just before it, “do not heap up empty phrases” (Matthew 6:7, ESV).
If you like a pattern, the ACTS prayer method follows a similar order: adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication.
Pray the Lord’s Prayer with The Pray App
“Give us this day our daily bread” is where your own requests belong, and The Pray App keeps them ready. Each person and need on your list becomes a prayer card that comes up on the days you choose. When you reach that line, tap Start praying and go through today’s cards one at a time.
Today shows the people and needs to bring to God in “give us this day.”
Swipe to the next card, tap Answered when God answers, and write how. See pray through today’s cards and how to pray daily.
The Pray App is free on the App Store, with no ads.
Questions people ask
What are the words of the Lord's Prayer?
In Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV): Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day 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 evil.
Should I pray the Lord's Prayer word for word?
You can, and Christians have for centuries. Jesus also gave it as a pattern, saying "Pray then like this" (Matthew 6:9, ESV), so you can follow its order in your own words too.
Why does the Lord's Prayer start with God and not our needs?
Because prayer starts with who God is. The first three requests are about His name, His kingdom and His will. Then it turns to bread, forgiveness and protection.
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