We very rarely state this prayer as a part of our worship assemblies - when it is, it is usually as a part of a lesson on prayer or on that particular passage of Scripture. It obviously is the example of all examples of prayer, given that it was spoken by part of the Trinity. Given the context around the passage, Jesus was encouraging simplicity and authenticity when petitioning to the Lord. He was not much into ritualizing faith and love, so my interpretation is that he was using this as an example, not as a mandated recitation.

David,

So this is your new spot? Good to see you. Answering your questions,

1. I recite the Lord's prayer in a number of ways. In liturgy, and sometimes as a devotion, I recite it as it is presented in Matthew. When I pray, I often use the Luke version as a framework to base my own prayers, because it requires me to think about what I'm praying more, or if I'm feeling lazy (or exhausted), I'll base my prayers off the Matthew version.

2. I flip between the NRSV version (my church uses it) and the KJV.

3. I think he was asking us both. In a comment on Kevin's blog, I likened it to saying 'I love you' to your wife. Sometimes, just saying it carries all the meaning necessary. Sometimes you feel the need to expand upon it, explain why. Both ways are encouraged by your wife.

I say the old version "trespasses", I use the NKJV, TNIV and The Message versions of the Bible (mostly) but use the old version of the Lord's prayer because, well it was what I was taught at school, in the days when God just was, before I turned pagan and then got born-again.

Habit, fond memories... I am sure the Lord would listen no matter which version people said, infact I know He would.

I say the Lord's prayer in a morning (sorry answering 1 after 2 here), I just feel it right for me and I pray for it for all of us.

In answer to 3, the disciples asked how should they pray, the Lord said pray in this manner (if I am not mistaken), pointing out how God knows what you need before you ask Him and how long winded prayers of the religious folk got on His nerves (so to speak). I think he was saying both, pray like it or if you are stuck pray it or maybe both.

GOD bless you

Our pastor recently did a sermon on "The Lord's Prayer" in response to some of us who were used to reciting it habitually in the Catholic church, and were wondering why we didn't say it in the Christian church. He explained that it was more of a guideline to how we should pray; for example, he stated that first and foremost when we come to God in prayer, we should always glorify Him and praise Him before we even begin with our requests. He went on to say that "...Thy will be done" was akin to us saying that no matter what, He knows what we are going to ask before we even ask it, and ultimately it is up to Him to decide what His "will" will be in regard to how He will answer us. With "Give us this day our daily bread" he stated that we should pray that God gives us what we need, and not just for us to pray for a list of things that we "want" ("...Give me this day my daily Mercedes!"); that we should be grateful for our daily necessities that we take for granted.

Since I'm going backwards in sequence by starting with #3, I use "who art," "hallowed," and "trespasses" when I DO recite The Lord's Prayer, mostly out of habit. However, I noticed that I don't say it all that often anymore, but if I was in dire circumstances and couldn't think straight at that moment, I'm sure it would be the first thing that would come to my mind to recite!

I just realised recently that "thy Kingdom come" does not imply "because it has not come yet" - it has, it's in the hearts of believers (Lk 17:21) and is being made visible as God's plan unfolds.

I also realised, thanks to N.T. Wright, that God's kingdom IS coming as the prayer indicates, and it's not that He's going to scrap this world and take us to a better place called heaven for ever.

I travel a lot of times and have attended several churches, which do recite the Lord's prayer and most of the time it is with all three Who Art, Hallowed and Trespasses. I recite it with all three in the church I go to every Sunday I'm there. For answer 3, you really need to read Matthew 6: 5 thru 15, to grasp the whole of what Jesus wants us to do. As in some of the comments, yes it lifts me up in that I know he listens to what I say and gives to me all I need and on occasion what I want. In God's Grace John

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I grew up Roman Catholic and we always said it with the "thou arts" and didn't ever say the "thine is the kingdom part..." When later attended Protestant churches I said the end. Now I attend a church with little liturgy and we seldom say it.

I tend to see The Lord's Prayer as an outline of things to talk to God about- in case I forget to be grateful or forget to repent, or however I may fail to acknowledge God in my rush to get to my list of needs. (Just being honest). As an outline it helps me put my relationship with God in perspective. When I have to actually say it in concert with others I have to really concentrate to keep it from being rote.

The Lord's prayer was never meant to be repeated verbatim as stated by Jesus. It was a template or concept to follow in prayer.
Jesus intended us to pray in this 'MANNER' not in these words.
Jesus was trying to get his disciples to stop belly gazing in prayer and become 'Father Focused'.
The first phrase, 'Our Father in Heaven' helped them with their self image, it helped them remember that they were not just unemployed fisherman followng an itinerant prophet/preacher/Messiah around. But that they were children of the Heavenly King of the visible world and unseen worlds.
If Jesus' father was their father they were 'Kings Kids', they could walk like royalty which they so much desired.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us that we could be called the children of God." - 1st John 3:1 - They could write C.O.G after their names.
'Hallowed be thy name.' reminded them that when they address their heavenly Father they are communicating with the Most High and Holy Being in the universe. Even the angels veil their faces in the presence of the Holy Father as they wait about His throne.
Hallowing or respecting God's name means more than respectful attitude toward it. It means that if we take the name 'Christian' and represent God to the world we need to faithfully represent Him in all we do and say and think or we will be misrepresenting Him and spoiling His Holy name.
The words 'Your Kingdom Come' help us keep our hope alive for Christ's coming Kingdom on earth that He will soon usher in at His second coming and encourages his followers to proclaim the Gospel so that more people would be ready for the event. It's better known as the 'Kingdom of Glory'.
However, 'Your Kingdom Come' also referred to the Kingdom of Grace that would come into the disciples lives after they received the Holy Spirit and began to live out the ways of Jesus daily.
Jesus' way was to 'Turn the other cheek instead of giving cheek.'
Jesus' way was 'Living the giving life and forsaking the taking.'
Jesus' way was 'Loving others more than ourselves.'
Jesus' way was 'Doing unto others as they would have us do unto them.'
Jesus' way was 'living a life totally dependant upon our heavenly Father'
'The sentence, 'Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' refers to a lifestyle of constant obedience to God's will.' - The psalmist David said,
"I delight to do Thy will, O My God and Your law is within my heart." - Ps 40:8 NKJV.
Jesus was only able to live in accordance with God's will because God's law was in his heart. - He expects us to do the same and has provided the power to accomplish it; - His Holy Spirit. He said, "Be ye perfect even as Your Heavenly Father is perfect."
'Give us our daily bread.' This phrase reminds us that God is interested in providing for our needs rather than our greeds. Each morning God prepares a feast consisting of the 'Bread of Life' for us at 5am.
He is very disappointed when we sleep thru and don't turn up for it.
The Children of Israel gathered the manna early every morning and when the sun came up it melted. - Exodus 16:21
We also need to feast on the manner early in the morning before the sun comes up and all the concerns of the new day melt our Christian experience away.
'Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.'
The disciple Peter and many other Jews in the time of Jesus thought one only needed to forgive a sinner seven times and then after that you could dispise him. But Jesus said, "Try 70 times 7. (In other words live to forgive. Once we truly recognize the real cost to God of our sins that He has forgiven.... The very life of His only begotten Son; we will be more motivated to forgive those who sin against us and cause us grief.
'Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
Can you imagine a loving Heavenly Father leading one of His innocent children into temptation? Even I wouldn't do that and I'm not the world's best father.
Jewish thought credited God with both Good and Evil. Good because all good things come from God and evil because they felt God could have prevented it happening if He wanted to. (Read the story of Job)
However, it certainly is wise to pray for deliverance from the evil one who goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he ay devour.
Satan is the cause of all evil and Satan is the accuser of the brethern.
Satan tempts and leads people into sin and then accuses them before their heavenly father as sinners not worthy of salvation.
But as one great writer once said, "Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely endured, gives us a new experience and advances us in the work of character building." - 'Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing.' page 117
Surely every Christian who resists the devil by dependance upon the Holy Spirit demonstrates to the world the power of God in action.
No wonder the Lord's prayer finishes with. 'Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the Glory forever AMEN. Because it will be if we pray and live in accordance with the principles laid down in the Lord's prayer.