Jesus' Model Prayer
Do You Need a Prayer?
Dear Father always near us,
may your name be treasured and loved,
may your rule be completed in us—
may your will be done here on earth
in just the way it is done in heaven.
Give us today the things we need today,
and forgive us our sins and impositions on you
as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.
Please don't put us through trials,
but deliver us from everything bad.
Because you are the one in charge,
and you have all the power,
and the glory, too, is all yours—forever—
which is just the way we want it!
This translation of what is often called “The Lord’s Prayer” or the “Our Father” was crafted by Dallas Willard. Check out his book The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God (New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 1988) for a careful explanation of the prayer.