As Jesus taught His disciples to pray, it’s important for us to realize the depth and sincerity of the prayer. Unless we realize the difference between reciting the Lord's prayer and praying the Lord's prayer, our efforts are in vain. When we simply recite the Lord's prayer, although reciting is good, we are just calling words. On the other hand, when we pray the Lord's prayer, we are sincerely desiring that God will hear us.
Several years ago, a good friend of mine became terminally ill and ask me to officiate when the time would come of her passing. She said all she wanted at her funeral was that I would pray the Lord's prayer at her graveside. When the time of her passing came, I began preparing for that service. I have read the Lord's prayer many times in the past and realize there is a big difference between reciting the Lord's prayer and praying the Lord's prayer. I felt it necessary to speak about truly praying, which only comes from the sincere desire of our heart, and how every word in the prayer has a purpose.

When we pray, we are sincerely desiring from the depths of our heart that God will hear our petition. The Lord's prayer that Jesus taught His disciples to pray begins with: (Our Father which art in Heaven). Therefore, when we pray, we must recognize Him as He is and where He is and not just beat the air with those words, but truly recognizing that He is our Heavenly Father and that He sits on His throne in Heaven.

The next part of the prayer is: (Hallowed be thy name). The word Hallowed shows us that the name of God is very sacred and that we must truly honor Him from the depths of our heart as we began our prayer.

The next words are (Thy Kingdom come). When we say thy Kingdom come, we are asking Jesus to come into our life and abide with us because His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom. Jesus told Pilot, my kingdom is not of this world. Therefore, we know His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom and when we pray and become Christians we are indwelled by His Spirit.

(Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven). Here again we should remember that not only do we live on this earth but we are also made of the dust of the earth and should remember we are asking for His will to be done “in earth”, not just on earth, but "in earth", and therefore we are asking for His will to be done in our lives, as well as, in Heaven.

(Give us this day our daily bread). I want to make the point that as well as needing food to sustain our physical life, we also need nourishment for our spiritual life. Jesus, the only Begotten Son of God, is that spiritual bread that sustains us day by day. For without Him, we cannot sustain ourselves. There is no other name given that will give us Spiritual Life.

(And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors). Jesus paid the ultimate price for us to have eternal life and there is no way we can ever repay Him. Therefore, it's required of us to forgive others just as He has forgiven us.

(And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil). God allowed His only begotten Son to be tempted of the devil, but He also delivered Him from the evils of the devil.

(For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.) As we close our prayer we are to recognize, the kingdom belongs to God. He is the creator of the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them. He has all power to save us from sin and He also has the power to destroy the disobedient and the wicked: therefore, all glory belongs to God. The clay doesn’t say to the potter, “Why have you formed me?” It's important to remember, what God does, it is forever. Amen.

If we will pray in the same manner that Jesus taught His disciples, praying with all sincerity, I firmly believe God will answer our prayers. True prayer makes things change.