A few months ago I consolidated all the answers from the last 10 questions of the Heidelberg Catechism, which put together form a beautiful devotional exposition of the Lord’s Prayer.

Today I’ve done the same with the last 7 questions of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It’s, well, shorter than the Heidelberg version — crisp brevity is the Westminster’s mode d’emploi — but no less helpful in guiding and refreshing us in praying that familiar form of words given to us by the Lord Jesus.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name
God, enable us and others to glorify you in all those things whereby you make yourself known; and, we pray, dispose all things to your own glory.

Thy kingdom come
Let Satan’s kingdom be destroyed; let the kingdom of grace be advanced; bring us and others into your kingdom, and keep us in it; and may your kingdom of glory be hastened.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
God, by your grace, make us willing and able to know, obey, and submit to your will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread
Of your free gift, God, let us receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and let us enjoy your blessing with them.

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
For Christ’s sake, freely pardon our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by your grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
God, either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever, Amen
We take our encouragement in prayer from you only, God, and we praise you. We testify that we desire to be heard, and we testify our assurance that you indeed hear.