While reading Andrew Wommack’s A Better Way to Pray the other night, I came upon a couple of eye-raising statements about The Lord’s Prayer:
“Technically speaking, this isn’t even a New Testament prayer”
“It’s obvious this isn’t a New Covenant prayer”.
Wow – those really got me curious. Thankfully, as he almost always does, Wommack explained his ideas well, and backed up the explanations with scripture. And in doing so, offered us ways of improving prayers to our Father, using The Lord’s Prayer as a model rather than reciting it word-for-word, day-after-day, and possibly losing it’s meaning and magnificence through familiarity and rote.
Wommack identifies three places to ‘update’ our Lord’s Prayer made during his ministry on Earth in Matthew 6 / Luke 11 to our post-death, resurrection and forgiven times.
First, we should use the name of Jesus when praying to our Father. Just before leaving His disciples, Jesus tells them and us:
“… Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (John 16:23-24, NIV)
Second, we don’t need to keep repeatedly asking for forgiveness of our sins – our sins have been forgiven past, present, and future. Wommack doesn’t offer the scripture, so I will:
“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:14, NIV)
Always thanking our Father for His forgiveness and grace through our Savior Jesus seems a much better approach than to repeatedly seek forgiveness for sins already forgiven. To do so echoes of the sacrifices made “again and again” under the Law as explained in Hebrews chapter 10.
Instead, we should
“… draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22, NIV)
Third, we need not pray “lead us not into temptation”. Wommack explains that through His life, the cross, and resurrection, Jesus defeated temptation and the devil. Hebrews explains,
“Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” (Hebrews 2:18, NLT)
So, James says,
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone”. (James 1:13, NIV)
We can surely pray for faith and strength against temptation, knowing that our temptation isn’t coming from God, and resting in the assurance that
“…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4, NIV)
So, what does our Lord’s Prayer look like ‘updated’ by the New Covenant? Not too revolutionary. Here’s my example, starting from a translation by Bill Mounce:
“Our Father in Heaven, may your name be revered. May Your kingdom come, may your will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. We thank you always for forgiving our sins, as we also forgive those who sin against us. Help us defeat temptation as Your Son did, and deliver us from the evil one. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”
A Better Way to Pray – an excellent book and I recommend it.
Amen.
Agree or disagree? I’d be interested in hearing what you think – and especially if you have additions or corrections to my work – if I’m wrong, please tell me!
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