(Jesus said) “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “Pray, then, in this way:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be revered as holy. May your kingdom come. May 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 do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. ~ Matthew 6:7-13
(Jesus) was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” So he said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, may your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.” _ Luke 11:1-4
For today's devotion, I want to share a website that offers different versions of the Lord's prayer before we look at Luther's take on things starting tomorrow. This prayer is only found in Luke and Matthew, and you can see that they even have differences in their versions.
The version we pray on Sundays is the one most of us grew up with, but it gets its roots from the King James version of the Bible and isn't necessarily the one closest to the original translation (ie: do not bring us to the time of trial vs. lead us not into temptation).
One of the best practices I think you can use to add to your prayer life is to either write your own version or pray a different version that already exists. Sometimes the Lord's Prayer becomes rote for us. Not long ago I posted a video of the lovely version of the prayer from the New Zealand handbook. That is one I often go to.
But here are some other versions. Take a chance that one of these might just be one you find meaningful!
And to close, another version that I love by Parker Palmer:
Heavenly Father, heavenly Mother, Holy and blessed is your true name. We pray for your reign of peace to come, We pray that your good will be done, Let heaven and earth become one. Give us this day the bread we need, Give it to those who have none. Let forgiveness flow like a river between us, From each one to each one. Lead us to holy innocence Beyond the evil of our days — Come swiftly Mother, Father, come. For yours is the power and the glory and the mercy: Forever your name is All in One.