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“So this is how you should pray.”
Those are not the words of a preacher, a theologian, or a religious system. They are the words of the Son of God Himself. The passage behind this song is what we call “The Lord’s Prayer,” but in reality it is the disciples’ prayer—given by the Lord as a pattern.
Let us look first at what the Word of God says:
> “Pray, then, in this way:
> ‘Our Father who is in heaven,
> hallowed be Your name.
> Your kingdom come.
> Your will be done,
> on earth as it is in heaven.
> Give us this day our daily bread.
> And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
> And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil [or, the evil one].’”
> — Matthew 6:9–13 (NASB)
The song “Pray Like a Child” paraphrases and applies this pattern to our lives. Its central message is simple but profound: Jesus teaches us to pray like children to a loving Father—honoring His name, seeking His kingdom, depending on His provision, walking in forgiveness, and standing against evil.
The tragedy in much of the Church is that we have turned this powerful pattern into a ritual. We recite the words, but often miss the relationship, the priorities, and the warfare embedded in them. Jesus is not only giving us words to say. He is giving us a structure for the whole life of prayer.
The lyrics keep repeating:
> “This, then, is how you should pray:
> ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’”
That repetition itself is a sermon. Jesus is saying: Start here. Always. Ground your prayer life here—Father, heaven, holiness of His Name, His kingdom, His will.
We must understand where these words were first spoken.
Matthew 5–7 records what we call the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is addressing His disciples in the hearing of the crowds. He is contrasting true righteousness—of the heart—with the external, performative religion of many of the religious leaders of His day.
Immediately before giving this prayer, Jesus says:
> “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men… But you, when you pray, go into your inner room… and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
> — Matthew 6:5–6
Then He adds:
> “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words… for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
> — Matthew 6:7–8
In that context, He says:
> “Pray, then, in this way…” (Matthew 6:9)
So we have:
1. A warning against hypocritical, showy prayer.
2. A warning against empty, mechanical repetition.
3. A revelation: “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
4. A pattern: “Pray, then, in this way.”
The disciples were Jews living under Roman occupation, familiar with synagogue worship, temple rituals, and the religious traditions of their leaders. Yet Jesus bypasses much of that religious structure and speaks of direct, personal relationship with God as Father—*our* Father.
The song brings this out:
> “Pray like a child to a loving Dad
> Not far away, but close and kind”
That is exactly the shift Jesus is introducing. Not a distant deity, but a present Father. Not religious performance, but filial trust.
To understand the depth of this pattern, we will look at two key expressions: “Father” and “hallowed.”
### 3.1 “Father” — *Patēr* (Greek) / Background in “Abba”
The Greek word in Matthew 6:9 is *patēr* (πατήρ), simply “father.” But behind this stands the Aramaic term “Abba,” which Jesus uses elsewhere:
> “Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”
> — Galatians 4:6
“Abba” is a family word. It is intimate, relational, but not childish or flippant. It is reverent, yet warm. Something like “Father,” but on the lips of a child who trusts.
The song captures this:
> “Pray like a child to a loving Dad
> Not far away, but close and kind”
Biblically, addressing God as Father is radical. In the Old Testament, God is called Father, but relatively rarely, and usually in a national sense (Father of Israel). Jesus makes this personal and central.
To say “Our Father” means:
True Christian prayer starts in adoption. It is the language of sons and daughters approaching a Father, not servants approaching a harsh master.
### 3.2 “Hallowed” — *Hagiazō* (Greek)
The phrase “hallowed be Your name” uses the verb *hagiazō* (ἁγιάζω), which means “to sanctify,” “to set apart as holy,” “to treat as sacred.”
It is not a mere statement, “Your name *is* holy.” It is a request and a desire: “Let Your name be regarded as holy. Let it be sanctified, honored, set apart.”
In Hebrew thought, “name” (Hebrew: *shem*) is not just a label. It represents the person’s character, reputation, and revealed nature. So we could paraphrase: “Let who You are be honored, revered, set above everything else—first in me, then in the world.”
The song reflects that:
> “Honor His name as holy and great
> Lift up His name above everything”
When we pray “hallowed be Your name,” we are asking:
This is spiritual warfare at the level of worship. Whose name will be exalted?
Let us now walk through the themes of the lyrics and align them with Scriptural truth.
### 4.1 “So this is how you should pray / Start with the Father who’s in heaven / Honor His name as holy and great”
Jesus sets the order of priorities:
1. Father’s identity.
2. Father’s realm (“in heaven”).
3. Father’s honor (“hallowed be Your name”).
Prayer that begins with self—our problems, our feelings—is misaligned. Jesus does not start with “Give us…” but with “Our Father… hallowed be Your name.”
Psalm 100:4 gives a similar order:
> “Enter His gates with thanksgiving
> And His courts with praise.”
We enter His presence by focusing on Him, not ourselves.
“In heaven” reminds us that:
So before we bring earthly needs, we acknowledge heavenly authority.
### 4.2 “Pray for His kingdom to come here soon / His will to be done on earth / Just like it’s perfectly done above”
This echoes directly:
> “Your kingdom come.
> Your will be done,
> on earth as it is in heaven.”
> — Matthew 6:10
The “kingdom” (Greek: *basileia*) is the rule, the reign, the government of God. It is not primarily a place, but an authority. To pray “Your kingdom come” is to ask: “Let Your rule be manifested—first in me, then in my home, church, city, nation.”
Romans 14:17 defines the kingdom:
> “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Where God’s rule is acknowledged, there is righteousness (right alignment with God), peace (shalom), and joy—all in and through the Holy Spirit.
To pray “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is daring. In heaven, God’s will is obeyed perfectly, immediately, joyfully. We are asking that our lives and communities begin to mirror that pattern—no more bargaining, no more partial obedience.
The song says:
> “Seek first His rule, His perfect plan”
That’s Matthew 6:33:
> “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Notice the order: Kingdom first. Needs second. Many believers reverse that and wonder why their prayer lives lack power.
### 4.3 “Give us today our daily bread”
This is a prayer of dependence:
> “Give us this day our daily bread.”
> — Matthew 6:11
The Greek phrase suggests “bread for the coming day”—the provision we need now, not stockpiles for our security. It recalls Israel in the wilderness, receiving manna daily (Exodus 16). If they tried to store it, it rotted. God was teaching dependence.
The song captures the breadth of this dependence:
> “Trust Him for bread, for grace, for strength
> He knows our needs before we speak”
That echoes Matthew 6:8:
> “…for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
“Daily bread” certainly includes material provision, but it also points to:
We are not called to live off yesterday’s grace. We are to receive fresh supply from the Father each day.
### 4.4 “Forgive us our debts / As we also have forgiven our debtors”
Here we reach a relational and spiritual law that many ignore at great cost:
> “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
> — Matthew 6:12
Luke’s version says “sins” (Luke 11:4). Matthew says “debts,” pointing to what we rightfully owe but cannot pay—our moral and spiritual obligations to God.
The terrifying part of this prayer is the word “as.” We are effectively asking God: “Forgive me in the same way and to the same measure that I forgive others.”
Jesus emphasizes this immediately after the prayer:
> “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
> But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”
> — Matthew 6:14–15
The song states:
> “Depend on Him daily, walk in forgiveness”
Unforgiveness is one of the most common doors through which Satan torments believers. Ephesians 4:26–27 warns:
> “Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity [place, foothold].”
Where bitterness remains, the devil finds a foothold. Where we release forgiveness, we close the door to the enemy and align ourselves again with God’s mercy.
### 4.5 “Keep us from temptation, deliver us from evil”
Jesus continues:
> “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil [or, the evil one].”
> — Matthew 6:13
The word for “temptation” (*peirasmos*) can mean trial, testing, or enticement to sin. James tells us God does not tempt anyone to evil (James 1:13), so this is not accusing God. It is a humble request: “Father, in Your sovereignty, order my path so that I do not fall into tests beyond what I can bear. Keep me from situations where my weakness will destroy me.”
“Deliver us from evil” can rightly be translated “from the evil one.” Prayer is spiritual warfare. We have an active enemy:
> “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
> — 1 Peter 5:8
To pray this line is to acknowledge:
The song says:
> “Stand against evil, safe in His hands”
That echoes Ephesians 6:10–11:
> “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
We “stand” not in our feeling, but in God’s provided armor and protection.
### 4.6 “Pray like a child… He knows our needs before we speak”
This is not sentimentality; it is doctrine. Jesus grounds His teaching on prayer in the Father’s care:
> “For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
> — Matthew 6:8
Later in the chapter, He adds:
> “…your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…”
> — Matthew 6:32–33
Childlike prayer is not childish prayer. It is humble, trusting, direct, honest. A child does not try to impress a father with religious language. A child comes as he is, because he knows he is loved.
The lyrics say:
> “Not far away, but close and kind”
Hebrews 4:16 echoes this reality:
> “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace…”
### 4.7 “It’s not a script to mindlessly repeat / But a pattern Jesus gave to shape our hearts”
Jesus Himself warns against “meaningless repetition” (Matthew 6:7). The solution is not to abandon the Lord’s Prayer but to use it as intended—a structure, a framework, a set of priorities.
The lyrics are theologically accurate here:
> “It’s not a script to mindlessly repeat
> But a pattern Jesus gave to shape our hearts
> Honor Him first, align with His dreams
> Depend on Him daily, walk in forgiveness
> Stand against evil, safe in His hands
> The kingdom, the power, the glory—are His”
This line reflects the doxology often added (based on later manuscripts, but entirely biblical in content):
> “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Whether or not that exact sentence belongs in Matthew’s original text, the truth it states is found throughout Scripture (see 1 Chronicles 29:11–12).
So the Lord’s Prayer:
### 4.8 “Every time we pray these words / We’re joining heaven’s endless song”
This line is not poetic fantasy, but spiritual reality. In heaven, worship never ceases:
> “Day and night they do not cease to say,
> ‘HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY…’”
> — Revelation 4:8
When we pray, “Hallowed be Your name,” we join that testimony. When we declare “Yours is the kingdom,” we agree with heaven’s verdict: the Lamb reigns (Revelation 11:15; 19:6).
> “Declaring who He is, what we need
> And trusting the Father who hears His own
> Simple words that change the world
> When prayed with faith from deep within”
Faith is the key. Jesus says:
> “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
> — Matthew 21:22
The words themselves do not operate like a charm. The pattern must be filled with faith, humility, obedience. Then “simple words” become instruments of the kingdom.
We are not studying this simply to admire it but to obey it. Let’s outline some practical steps—patterns Derek Prince would often call “proclamations” and disciplines.
### Step 1: Begin Every Prayer with Father-Focus and Worship
Before you bring requests, stop and say—consciously, deliberately:
Practical action:
This repositions your soul. It shifts you from self-centered prayer to God-centered prayer.
### Step 2: Align Your Agenda with His Kingdom and Will
Do not rush to “Give us…” Begin with:
Practical action:
### Step 3: Practice Daily Dependence and Forgiveness
Daily bread implies daily relationship. Forgiveness implies daily cleansing.
Practical action:
1. Dependence for provision
2. Daily forgiveness inventory
This shuts doors to the enemy and keeps your heart clean.
### Step 4: Engage in Conscious Spiritual Warfare
Do not be naïve about evil. End your prayer pattern with deliberate resistance:
Practical action:
> “I submit myself to God. I resist the devil, and he will flee from me.” (James 4:7)
Use Ephesians 6 to consciously put on the armor of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word, and prayer.
### Proclamation (Confession of Faith)
Say this aloud, slowly and deliberately, as an act of alignment with God’s Word:
> I proclaim that God is my Father in heaven.
> I am not a slave; I am His child through Jesus Christ.
> Today I set His name apart as holy in my life.
> I exalt His character above every circumstance and every other name.
>
> I submit to His kingdom and His will.
> I ask that His rule be manifested in me, in my home, and in my surroundings,
> on earth as it is in heaven.
>
> I receive from my Father my daily bread—
> all the provision, grace, and strength I need for this day.
>
> I choose to forgive all who have sinned against me.
> I release them from their debt.
> Therefore I receive my Father’s forgiveness,
> and the blood of Jesus cleanses me from all sin.
>
> I ask my Father to keep me from situations of temptation beyond my strength.
> I submit myself to God and resist the devil.
> I declare that through Jesus Christ I am delivered from the evil one.
>
> For the kingdom, the power, and the glory belong to my Father—
> now and forever.
> Amen.
### Prayer
Father in heaven,
Thank You that through Jesus Christ I may call You “Father.” I come to You not in my own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Your Son.
I ask that Your name be hallowed in my life—set apart, honored, obeyed. Where I have put other things above You, bring them down. Be first in my heart, first in my thoughts, first in my decisions.
Let Your kingdom come in me. Bring every area of my life under the rule of Jesus—the Lordship of Christ over my mind, my body, my relationships, my finances, my ministry. Let Your will be done in me and through me as it is in heaven.
Give me today my daily bread. I renounce anxiety and self-reliance. I trust You for provision, for grace, and for strength.
Holy Spirit, search my heart. Show me any person I have not forgiven. By an act of my will, in obedience to Your Word, I forgive them now. Father, as I forgive, forgive me, and close every door I have opened to the enemy through bitterness or resentment.
Keep me from temptation. Order my steps. Where I am weak, strengthen me by Your Spirit. Deliver me from the evil one and his schemes. I take refuge in the finished work of the cross and the victory of the risen Christ.
Father, I acknowledge that the kingdom is Yours, the power is Yours, and the glory is Yours—forever and ever. Teach me to pray like a child, with trust and obedience, and use even the simple words of this pattern to shape my heart and change the world around me.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen.
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