Note: John MacArthur (JM), pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, has some of the best developed thoughts on the Lord’s Prayer that I could find. I would like to devote a number of Prayer 101 postings to excerpts from his sermons.
Now remember this, every part of this prayer speaks of God. "Our Father, who art in heaven," that's God's paternity, as our Father. "Hallowed be thy name." That's God priority. "Thy kingdom come." That's God's program. "Thy will be done," that's God's plan. "Give us this day our daily bread." That's God's provision. "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." That's God's pardon. "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." That's God's protection. "For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory forever." That's God's pre-eminence. The whole of prayer focuses on Him and thus we've used the verse again and again, and where Jesus said in John 14:13, "Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." It's the glory of God that is the measure of prayer.
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