Once upon a time, not long long ago, there was a great country. And in this great country, if you asked anyone to insert a missing word into the first sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, virtually everyone who was asked would have had no problem doing so. In fact, a great many could go on to recite every single word of the prayer. As children growing up, most of the people prayed in school to begin the day, and together, with right hand over heart, they stated their allegiance to God and country. Has forbidding prayer and the pledge of allegiance made a difference for the nation?

Aboard flight 93, which had been hijacked on September 11, 2001, Todd Breamer, online with a telephone operator named Lisa Jefferson—moments before the passengers would attempt to take back control of the plane from the terrorist hijackers—asked her to pray with him. Together, they both prayed the Lord’s Prayer, every word, from start to finish. Afterwards, Todd, along with others on board the doomed aircraft, recited from the 23rd psalm. Once he had finished, he held the phone down and said, “Are you ready?” “Okay, let’s roll!”

Fast forward, not many decades later, in that same country, on one of the biggest and most well-known game shows, three highly vetted, select contestants were asked on national television to remember one word from the first line of what is possibly the most well-known prayer in history. All three contestants were silent. In fact, not even one attempted to answer. The answer was “hollowed.” Our Father, who art in heaven, “hollowed” be thy name.

This very telling moment should both break your heart and make you fear for the spiritual state and future of our country. The only hope for our nation lies not in worldly knowledge. Nor is it to be found in science, agendas, politics, or anything other than turning back to a place of acknowledging, reverencing, and fearing God. This can only begin with prayer, a broken spirit, and a contrite heart. The question is, will this only come by way of an event like September 11th, 2001, except far greater in magnitude and directly affecting everyone in the nation?

All our hope lies in prayer, and Jesus taught us how we should pray. He did not say we had to memorize and recite every word exactly, or chant. In fact, he taught not to use vain repetitions of the same prayers over and over but to pray from the heart as moved by the spirit. Nevertheless, sometimes we may be moved by the Spirit to pray the Lord’s Prayer, with every word exactly as Jesus prayed and as Todd and Lisa recited it when Flight 93 was heading toward the Pentagon to destroy it. And as at times, I, along with many others, also do.

However, even when praying with our own words, remembering the Lord’s prayer can make our prayers fuller and much more effective. For the Lord said, “After this manner pray, ye.” The manner in which Jesus petitioned the Father, although brief, is very rich, concise, and complete.

When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he began with, “Our Father, which art in heaven, hollow be thy name.” In regards to the first two words, “Our Father,” Paul wrote, “For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” The first thing we are to do is declare God “our Father.” In so doing, we lay claim to him and assert that, by adoption, we are accepted by him as his children.

The words, “Our Father,” are followed by the phrase, “which art in heaven,” whereby we affirm the place of his power and omnipotence. “Hollowed be thy name” testifies to the holiness of God and to his holy name.

‘Thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This statement expresses the absolute submission of all things to God and the fulfillment of his eternal purposes. Of this, the Apostle Paul writes: “Then comes the end, when he (Jesus) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power… And when all things shall be subdued unto [Jesus], then shall the Son also himself be subject unto [God, who] put all things under [Jesus], that God may be all in all.”

After vowing utter commitment to complete the will of God, Jesus makes intercession for all that is necessary to carry it out, saying, “Give us this day, or daily bread,” which is the Word of God. Only by the sufficiency, which only God can supply, will we be both willing and able to carry out his perfect will.

The request for sufficiency is followed by a petition for absolution; Jesus told us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” It is impossible to do the work of God unless the path is made straight and every obstacle between us and God is removed. Hold no grudge, nor harbor any sin or bitterness in your hearts; forgive, that you may be forgiven.

Of most importance, when Jesus said, “Forgive us our debts,” he prayed without doubt for our sake; for he is, was, and forever will be without sin. Not only so, but in using the plural, “us,” he gives us an example to pray for others, even when praying for ourselves. How easy it is when we pray for something we desire to say, “Lord, give me.” Is it not just as easy and more profitable to say, “Lord, give us”? God was well pleased with Solomon when he requested wisdom for himself because he asked that it might be given for the benefit of others, and God granted his request.

Jesus finished his prayer by requesting victory over all things and attesting to the infinite eternal power of the everlasting God, saying, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”

The prayer Jesus gave us as an example is so simple, yet so perfect and complete, in so few words. When praying, I often remember his words, “After this manner pray ye.” For although I pray as I feel led, following no ritualistic formalism, I find myself at times reciting his words.

Furthermore, the Lord’s Prayer is so perfect that it is my checklist when I am coming to the end of my own prayers. I ask myself, “Have I covered all the points Jesus made?” Have I acknowledged who God is, where he is, and all that he is? Did I lay claim to who I am as a child of God? Have I included others in all that I ask for myself? Have I sought forgiveness, sanctification, and holiness, as well as victory and deliverance over all evil? Have I prayed for every soul whom God would save by saying, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?” One could continue on here, but all good things can be comprehended in the Lord’s prayer.

There is, however, one other thing I add to the prayer Jesus prayed, which I am sure is acceptable. At the end, I say, “In Jesus’s name, Amen!”