Praying the Our Father

I stumble with prayer a lot of times, wanting to cover all the bases and not leave anything out.  I realized one day while reading the Gospels that Jesus taught His disciples the perfect prayer.  I was originally taught, being a Dispensationalist, that this prayer was more appropriate for the age of Israel and not for the Church, but I have come to think differently.  It is the perfect prayer.

First, you direct the prayer to your Father in heaven.  You can say, "Our Father", or you can say "My father".  I like to personalize it and improvise to make it mine every day.  So, while the basis stays the same, the improvisation, personalization changes as needed.  For instance:

(Our Father Who Art in Heaven) - "My father, who lives in heaven, who lives perhaps in all the universe or multiple universes and all the dimensions"...

(Hallowed be Thy Name)..."Your Name is above all names;  you are above all, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, You are eternal and beyond human understanding"

(Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven)..."Father I don't know if the Rapture is an accurate Biblical teaching, but I pray that Your historical agenda be accomplished, that the return of Your Son is coming very soon, and that Your will be done on earth in spite of man's negative volition.  You make the evil do your will even though they are convinced they are winning against You, like Hitler, like Nebuchadnezzar.  The harder they weave their webs, the more they are carrying out Your eternal will.  May Your will, the perfect will that does not take evil into consideration, be done on earth within my lifetime......when Jesus returns."

(Give us this day our daily bread)..."Give me this day what I need to accomplish Your will, whatever those needs might be.  Take care of my physical needs and those of my loved ones.  As bread is basic to life, so the Word is basic food for my spirit - help me to recall Your words and Thoughts as I move through the day."

(And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us)..."Father I confess my sins of.....(fill in the blank)....and I ask that You enable me to forgive those who try to hurt me, who are against me.  As I forgive, I will be forgiven.  If I have not forgiven anyone, then I am not cleansed from sin and sin will separate me from You."

(And lead us not into temptation)...."Father protect me from those things that will bring me down, cause me to fall away from Your plan for me and the happiness that entails.  You know what my tendencies, my Achilles heel is - protect me from that temptation."

(And deliver us from evil)..."Father this world is growing darker and darker with unbridled evil.  Protect and deliver me from the darkness and those that revel in it."

(For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forevermore.  Amen)  "Father - it all comes down to You.  My life, my eternity, everything I am and everything I have or will have.  I pray these things in Christ's name.  Amen"

I know that was long and somewhat tedious.  Maybe it isn't all correct Biblically, but God knows the heart and He can discern what I mean.  Every day it is somewhat different, different words might be used or different ideas, but the basic parts of the prayer cover everything.

What more could we want other than - our needs met, protection from temptation and evil, our sins forgiven and for Jesus Christ to return as ruler.  Everything is covered.  

If I pray this on the way to work each day, the day is indescribably better than if I do not.