Memorizing the Lord’s Prayer is something many of us have done. We can recite it without thinking. It rolls off the tongue, so easily that it had lost meaning to me.
I remember learning the Lord’s Prayer in Sunday school. I told my mom that I wanted to memorize it. I worked on it week after week. When Thanksgiving arrived, I asked if I could say grace. Mom, of course said yes. I recited the Lord’s Prayer. I was so proud of myself.
As weeks and years went by, the tradition of saying it every week in church became routine. It had lost impact. I no longer thought about what I was saying, and wasn’t concerned about it until a few years ago. I was reading about the prayer and the author addressed this very issue. He challenged the readers to recite the prayer with emphasis and emotion and see what happens.
I took the challenge to heart. Now, I hear what I am saying. It forces me to pay attention to the words. Whether I am leading it publicly or saying it privately to myself, I emphasize various words and say it with emotion. It engages my heart and mind in the powerful words of the prayer.
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:7-14 NIV).
Now, I do it with the Apostles Creed, as well. It keeps tradition from losing meaning within me. Try it. Share what happens.
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