The Lord’s Prayer

Daily R.E.A.P. Report for Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)
The Lord’s Prayer

By meditating on these verses, you are seeking to anchor your heart in Jesus’ own teaching on how to commune with your Heavenly Father. This journey will enrich your relationship with God and help you walk confidently in His love, wisdom, and purpose each day.

Read

“Pray then like this: ‘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.’” Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)

These words were spoken by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount—a profound moment where He teaches His followers about the heart and nature of genuine faith. Matthew’s Gospel introduces Jesus as the promised Messiah and Teacher, addressing a diverse crowd eager for spiritual truth. In teaching the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus contrasts authentic communication with God against empty religious rituals. This passage invites every believer into an intimate, honest relationship with God, where dependence, reverence, and forgiveness are central.

Examine

Matthew 6:9-13 is more than a prayer to memorize—it’s a blueprint for approaching God as a loving Father, surrendering to His will, depending on Him daily, embracing forgiveness, and asking for protection from evil. Jesus affirms that God desires heartfelt honesty rather than mere repetition, and He welcomes His children into a personal, transformative dialogue.

Connection to Jesus: Jesus not only taught His disciples to pray; He lived it. Throughout His life, Jesus exemplified perfect dependence on the Father—often withdrawing to pray, submitting to God’s will (even unto the cross), and offering forgiveness to those who wronged Him. By inviting us to call God “Father,” Jesus shares His unique relationship with us, making us co-heirs in God’s family.

Main Themes:

- Intimacy with God: Prayer invites us into a close, familial relationship with the Creator.

- Surrender & Trust: We acknowledge God’s sovereignty and trust Him to provide and guide.

- Forgiveness & Deliverance: The prayer leads us into continual cycles of receiving and offering forgiveness and seeking God’s help in overcoming temptation and evil.

Key Word Study:
“Father” (Greek: Patēr): This word signifies an intimate, loving relationship, emphasizing God’s accessibility and care.
“Hallowed” (Greek: hagiazō): To set apart as holy. Jesus teaches us to approach God with reverence and acknowledge His sacred nature even as we draw close.

Apply

Reflective Questions:

- How does addressing God as “Father” shift the way I approach Him in prayer and in life?
- Where do I most need to trust God’s provision, will, or protection today?
- Is there someone I need to forgive, or a wrong I need to release, in light of God’s forgiveness toward me?

Real-Life Application:

- Start Every Day in Prayer: Set aside five minutes each morning to pray through this passage, personalizing the words for your own needs and challenges.
- Practice Forgiveness: If a relationship feels tense or a past hurt lingers, use this prayer as a model—confess your pain to God and ask for strength to forgive as you have been forgiven.
- Depend on God’s Provision: When faced with worry about work, finances, or family, pause to ask God for your “daily bread”—trusting Him for today’s needs rather than being overwhelmed by tomorrow.

Real-Life Example: A young mother, anxious about making ends meet, prayed each morning using the Lord’s Prayer. She found new peace as she entrusted her family’s needs to God, and when she prayed, “as we forgive our debtors,” she reached out to reconcile with her estranged sibling. That intentional step of forgiveness brought healing not only to their relationship but also deepened her faith in God as a loving Father.

Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for inviting me to call You “Father” and welcoming me into Your loving presence. I praise You for Your holiness and goodness. Forgive me for times I’ve doubted Your provision or held onto unforgiveness. Today, I surrender my needs, my heart, and my will to You. Give me strength to forgive others, courage to trust Your guidance, and protection from all that would draw me away from You. Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to live these words, not just recite them, and let Your kingdom come in my life and through my actions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Reflection: Picture yourself walking hand-in-hand with your Heavenly Father, each step guided by His wisdom, each burden eased by His care. Just as a child freely speaks to a loving parent, you are invited to bring every hope, hurt, and need before God—trusting Him to provide, forgive, and protect. 

Call to Action: Today, pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly, pausing after each line to make it personal. Trust that your Father hears every word and delights in drawing you closer. Let this become the rhythm of your life—breathing in God’s presence, responding with love, and living as a reflection of His grace.