The template of the Lord's Prayer

(Note: This post borrows liberally from a recent sermon by John MacArthur.)

People have long debated whether the "Lord's Prayer" is a script meant to be recited, or a general template of how to pray. Maybe it's both, seeing that Jesus says "When you pray, say..." in Luke 11:2 (ESV), but he says "Pray then like this..." in Matthew 6:9 (ESV).

Viewing it as more of a template, the Lord's Prayer contains two sections, each containing three points. The first section deals with God, and emphasizes why we should pray. From Matthew 6:9-10 (ESV),

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done...

Note the three points: (1) We praise him as holy; (2) We wish him to usher in his kingdom; and (3) We wish things to proceed according to his will, rather than our own. Those three points focus on our mind on God, and, ultimately, those are the reasons we pray.

The second section of the Lord's Prayer then turns to ourselves, and emphasizes what we need from God. From Matthew 6:11-13 (ESV),

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.

Note the three points: (1) We ask him to provide; (2) We ask him to pardon; and (3) We ask him to protect. Those three points also cover three different time dimensions: what we need now, what we need regarding past actions, and what we need in the future.

The main message of this post is that, as directed by Jesus himself, our prayers should touch upon the three points regarding God, and the three points regarding own own needs. And we should do so without ceasing!