10 Contemplative Days in the Lord's PrayerSample

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, as we also have forgiven those who sin against us. Help us not to give into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen

Thinking of God the way you think of your dad brings a variety of emotions. Maybe you got a head start on what your heavenly Father’s provision and protection are like through your dad and can imagine how much greater it is with a perfect Father who fills in all the gaps. Or maybe you experienced quite the opposite, and it’s created big obstacles for your prayers.

Today is the day to acknowledge what is. Notice everything dad was and is to you. Notice what he was not. Notice what was shaped about you by that. Also, notice if and how that has shaped what you perceive about the Father in heaven that you are praying to.

Now it’s time to notice what a heavenly Father wants to speak into you, about who he is to you, and what he thinks about you. He gets his own voice. His voice is not your dad’s voice. If you get yourself quiet and listen, believe he’ll speak something true that you need to hear right now.

Whatever you hear, or at least think you hear, respond with a prayer back to him.