The Lord's Prayer (Our Father): Text and Personal Meditation
The prayer Jesus taught, prayed slowly line by line
Morning Prayer editorial team · Updated: November 2026
When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He gave them these words. Pray the Our Father slowly, then stay with the meditation that follows to let each line touch your own life.
Let us pray
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Father, I call You Father because Jesus told me I could. Let that word sink in today: I am not an orphan, not an employee, not a stranger. I am Your child.
May Your name be honored in my home and my work, not only in church. May Your kingdom come in my heart first, in the places where I still rule myself. May Your will be done in the decision I am facing right now, even if it is not the will I would choose.
Give me today what I need for today, and teach me to stop hoarding against tomorrow. Forgive me, Lord, and make me quick to forgive the person whose name just came to mind. Keep me far from the temptation I know I am weak against, and when evil comes close, deliver me.
I pray this as Your Son taught me, with His words on my lips and His Spirit in my heart. Amen.
Blessing
May the Father who hears this prayer give you daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance from every evil.
How to pray this prayer
- Find a quiet moment and breathe slowly.
- Read the prayer aloud or in your heart.
- Add your own intention before the Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Catholics end the Our Father without the doxology?
The words For thine is the kingdom were added by early Christians and appear in some manuscripts but not the oldest ones. Catholics pray them at Mass after a short prayer by the priest, but not in the rosary or private recitation.
How often should I pray the Lord's Prayer?
Many Christians pray it at least once a day; it is part of every Mass and every rosary. Praying it slowly, one line at a time, keeps it from becoming automatic.
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