Festooning

Festooning the Lords Prayer - A prayer practice

(Adapted by a teaching from Trevor Hudson by the Renovare Institute)

I want to lay out two things as we begin this prayer practice.

1- Festooning by definition: to adorn, decorate for a special occasion.

2- The Lords Prayer. When the disciples asked Jesus, “How should we pray”, Jesus masterfully gave them some of the most important 50+ words that encapsulates the heart of prayer. Now, it’s my belief and understanding that Jesus wasn’t offering them a ridged ritual that they must recite word for word only. He was giving them a framework in effort to shape their mind and hearts towards what we should pray.

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I wonder, have you ever sat with the Lords prayer for an extended period of time? Over the summer, I felt particularly drawn to pray the Lords Prayer every day, word for word. Some days it obvisiously felt mechanical and other days the weight of certain words or phrases caused me to stop and cling to them for the whole day. Phrases like “holy is Your name”, stoked my imagination, my awe and wonder to the greatest and magnificent presence of God. Other days phrases like “forgive me, and help me to forgive others”, drew me in to acknowledge my own sin and even revealed aged resentment that had been forgotten but not forgiven within me.

Maybe, you find yourself in a season without words. This is yet another gift of the Lords Prayer. Language that we can draw upon, in times when we find ourselves in need. Friend, are you in need of words? Consider holding the Lords Prayer near to your heart, allowing this ancient prayer to bring comfort, give shape and bring peace to your soul.

In other times, we are being invited to give words and draw upon our faith. I’d like to offer you this prayer practice of “festooning the Lords Prayer”.

The practice of festooning the Lords Prayer, is our opportunity to sit with Jesus’ words and adorn them with our own. Let me be clear that Jesus doesn’t need us to make his prayer more beautiful and that isn’t the point of this practice. This is simply an invitation to intertwine our hearts with Jesus, as we communion together over this ancient prayer.

How might God draw your attention to words or phrases, to bring new language to your soul or cause our mind to expand upon what He would have to speak to us.

Here is how the practice goes:

In it’s simplicity, write out the Lords Prayer, as Jesus teaches us.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.

Amen.”

Then going line by line, begin to rewrite in your own words. Here is an example of a prayer that I wrote:

“Abba, who is always near, sacred is Your name - holy You are.

May Your story unfold here on earth

as it should and as it is in heaven.

What we need daily, You give generously.

Forgiveness I need; in one hand to receive and in the other to give away.

Protect me from my vulnerabilities, close the door on all that is evil.

Your presence my dwelling place full of your power and indescribable glory.

Let it be - Amen.”

I hope you find some space and time to sit with this prayer practice and the sacred words of the Lords Prayer. May these words bring comfort to your soul, inspiration to your faith and root you in the heart of Jesus.

Grace and Peace to you.