The Heidelberg Catechism takes the reader through a beautiful tour of biblical doctrine in a crisp, clear, and devotional manner, and over the last couple of weeks I’ve especially appreciated its exposition of the Lord’s Prayer.

The question/answer format slightly disguises the fact that the last 10 questions of the Catechism are an expository expansion of the Lord’s Prayer itself, so I’ve taken the words of each answer and set them together. This is a lovely way to pray the Lord’s Prayer, that helps me (and hopefully you) to savour and digest the meaning of each line in this most familiar of prayers.

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name
Help us to truly know you,
to honour, glorify, and praise you
for all your works and for all that shines forth from them:
your almighty power, wisdom, kindness,
justice, mercy, and truth.
Help us to direct all our living–
what we think, say, and do–
so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us,
but always honoured and praised.

Thy kingdom come
Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way
that more and more we submit to you.
Preserve and increase your church.
Destroy the devil’s work;
destroy every force which revolts against you
and every conspiracy against your holy Word.
Do all this until your kingdom fully comes,
when you will be all in all.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Help us and all people to renounce our own wills
and without any back talk to obey your will,
for it alone is good.
Help everyone carry out his office and calling,
as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread
Provide for all our physical needs
so that we may recognise
that you are the only source of everything good,
and that neither our care and work nor your gifts
can do us any good without your blessing.
Therefore may we withdraw our trust from all creatures
and place it in you alone.

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
Because of Christ’s blood,
do not impute to us, poor sinners that we are,
any of the transgressions we do
or the evil that constantly clings to us.
Forgive us just as we are fully determined,
as evidence of your grace in us,
wholeheartedly to forgive our neighbours.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
We are so weak that we cannot stand on our own for a moment,
and our sworn enemies–
the devil, the world, and our own flesh–
never stop attacking us.
And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
so that we may not be defeated in this spiritual fight,
but may firmly resist our enemies
until we finally win the complete victory.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever
We have made all these petitions of you because,
as our all-powerful king,
you are both willing and able to give us all that is good;
and because your holy name, and not we ourselves,
should receive all the praise forever.

Amen
This shall surely and truly be!
For it is much more certain that God has heard my prayer
than I feel in my heart that I desire such things from him.