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The Lord's Prayer for Kids Line by Line

The Lord's Prayer for kids can be taught one line at a time, in plain words, over about six days of family worship. Each line is a short, true thing that Jesus told us to say to God, and a child can understand the heart of each one when a parent explains it simply.

Jesus gave this prayer to His disciples, and Christians have prayed it ever since. Here is the prayer, what each line means in words a child can follow, and a plan for teaching it. We begin with the first two words, because they matter for every parent who teaches this prayer.

The Lord's Prayer in the World English Bible

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”Matthew 6:9-13, World English Bible

Our Father in heaven

God is the Father in heaven of all who trust in His Son. Jesus taught His disciples to call Him that. John writes that “as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name” (John 1:12). So the words “Our Father” belong to those who trust in Christ. Teach your child to pray them, and tell them honestly that God becomes our Father when we turn from sin and trust in His Son. Pray that your child will.

Line by line, in plain words

  • “May your name be kept holy.” God's name is holy and greater than every other name, and we ask that everyone would honour Him.
  • “Let your Kingdom come.” We ask that God's rule would spread in our hearts and in the world.
  • “Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.” We ask that we would obey God as the angels do.
  • “Give us today our daily bread.” We ask God for what we need today, and we thank Him for our food.
  • “Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” We ask God to forgive our sins, and we forgive people who hurt us.
  • “Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” We ask God to keep us from sin and from the devil.
  • “For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.” God is the King, and everything good belongs to Him.

A six day plan for the Lord's Prayer for kids

  1. Day 1. Say the whole prayer together, slowly. Explain “Our Father in heaven.”
  2. Day 2. Teach “may your name be kept holy” and “let your Kingdom come.”
  3. Day 3. Teach “let your will be done.” Ask what it means to obey God.
  4. Day 4. Teach “give us today our daily bread.” Thank God for the meal.
  5. Day 5. Teach “forgive us our debts.” Talk about asking forgiveness and forgiving others.
  6. Day 6. Teach the last lines. Say the whole prayer again from memory, together.

Each day, take a minute at the end of devotions. The session for Mark chapter 11 has Jesus teaching about prayer, which pairs well with the week.

Praying the Lord's Prayer from the heart

Jesus warned against using prayer as a formula. He said, “In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking” (Matthew 6:7). The Lord's Prayer is a pattern for our own prayers, and it can also be prayed word for word. When your child says it, stop and ask, “What are we asking God for in this line?”

Christ, who teaches us to pray

Jesus gave us this prayer, and then He paid for the forgiveness that we ask for in it. John writes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Tell your child that we can ask God to forgive us because Jesus died for sinners and rose again. Call your child to turn from sin and trust Him. A child who can recite the prayer has not necessarily believed, so pray for them as well as with them.

Begin this week with the first line, and open a family worship session to go with it. If you would like to help other families, you can give here. May your children come to know God as their Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.