Praying the Lord's Prayer

by J.I. Packer

Praying is a problem for many people. Christians often go through the motions of prayer because it is expected of them, but they are often left wondering, "Did God hear me? Does he even care?" In his book Praying the Lord's Prayer, an excerpt from Growing in Christ, J. I. Packer presents a powerful prayer is a natural activity between the Heavenly Father and his children. As Packer works through each phrase of Christ's pattern of prayer, readers will begin to grasp the basic principles and guidelines of prayer. As readers apply the truths of this book to their prayer lives, they will experience intimate communication with God and will strengthen their own conversations with their Father in heaven.

Genres: Prayer, Christian, Theology, Christian Living, Devotional, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published June 7, 2007

About the author

What do J. I. Packer, Billy Graham and Richard John Neuhaus have in common? Each was recently named by TIME magazine as among the 25 most influential evangelicals in America.

Dr. Packer, the Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College, was hailed by TIME as “a doctrinal Solomon” among Protestants. “Mediating debates on everything from a particular Bible translation to the acceptability of free-flowing Pentecostal spirituality, Packer helps unify a community [evangelicalism] that could easily fall victim to its internal tensions.”

Knowing God, Dr. Packer’s seminal 1973 work, was lauded as a book which articulated shared beliefs for members of diverse denominations; the TIME profile quotes Michael Cromartie of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington as saying, “conservative Methodists and Presbyterians and Baptists could all look to [Knowing God] and say, ‘This sums it all up for us.’”

In a similar tribute to Dr. Packer almost ten years ago, American theologian Mark Noll wrote in Christianity Today that, “Packer’s ability to address immensely important subjects in crisp, succinct sentences is one of the reasons why, both as an author and speaker, he has played such an important role among American evangelicals for four decades.”

For over 25 years Regent College students have been privileged to study under Dr. Packer’s clear and lucid teaching, and our faculty, staff and students celebrate the international recognition he rightly receives as a leading Christian thinker and teacher.

(https://www.regent-college.edu/facult...)

Reviews

[Barnabas Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few scholars that I know of in the Christian world have the capacity to be as concise and pastoral as JI Packer. This is simply one of the clearest, most helpful, most worshipful books on the Lord’s prayer I have ever run across. And he does it all in 120 pages! It is accessible to any average Christian, not just theologians and academics. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Ashley Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is near perfect (it's Packer so no surprise there). The way he breaks down each phrase and within 3-4 pages manages to not only teach but encourage in prayer is phenomenal. For an quick jumpstart in your prayer life, this is the book.

[Bo Cogbill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this together with The Lord and His Prayer by N.T. Wright, Lord, Teach Us by William Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas, and The Prayer of the Lord by R.C. Sproul, and I would rank them as follows:

1a. Sproul
1b. Packer
2. Wright
3. Willimon and Hauerwas

There is something soothing to Packer's works, and Praying the Lord's Prayer is no exception. Chapter after brief chapter, the reader will find him/herself comforted by Packer's commentary. While Sproul comes straight at you like a brawler, Packer delivers the same blows, but like a surgeon.

He goes through the Lord's Prayer methodically, weaving the reader into it, drawing him/her closer to Jesus, and the questions at the end of each chapter are worded in such wise ways to provide deeper penetration and reflection.

The only thing that kept this from being rated above Sproul is that there were times that Packer seemed to get off topic. If you're looking for meat, then I'd recommend Sproul; if you're looking for devotion and reflection, then you can't go wrong with Packer. If you're taking a group through the Lord's Prayer, then Sproul and Packer are a great 1-2 punch.

[Jordan Shirkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what you’d expect from Packer: insightful, clear, and Christ-centered.

[Bess · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.I. Packer has never disappointed me, although the majority of what I have read of his has been in the form of articles and I've listened to him on YouTube. I have read his "Knowing God". In His book "Praying The Lord's Prayer" Packer begins by explaining the importance of The Apostle's Creed, The Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments for giving our lives as Christians it's substance.
Taking The Lord's Prayer, he breaks up each part and explains Who and what it represents. Emphasizing the Lord's Prayer as a critical aspect of our life as Christians who want our prayer life to be one fraught with meaning and much more than mere duty, he doesn't simply make the claim, but proposes a strong argument for why an understanding of each part of it is essential for prayer to be life changing in our communion with God. Pointing out that it is one of these reformation catechisms, he begins with the first question contained in the Anglican Prayer Book Catechism.
That being "What does Thou Desirest of Thee in Prayer"?
This book, while small in size, has a message he presents both powerfully yet succinctly. I took my time reading it because I wanted to carry it's message with me. His break down of The Lord's Prayer has given me a renewed perspective of prayer, including the importance of beginning my prayer time by acknowledging God and His name. It gave me a greater understanding of the importance of Praying The Lord's prayer, not as a habit or routine but because it addresses every aspect of our relationship with God.

[Afton Rorvik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book made me think, as J.I. Packer always does. He helped me understand the phrases in the Lord's Prayer, a prayer that many of memorized as children. He suggests that readers use this wonderful model of prayer to talk to God in their own words. On page 16 he writes, “. . . what parent could be happy if his child only ever spoke to him in quotations, thus limiting his conversation to the reciting of other people’s sentiments? "

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an easy, but profound read! I plan to read it yearly. I was reminded to pray through the Lord's Prayer daily in my own words from the heart.

My biggest take aways:

When praying start with acknowledging WHO God is, then PRAISE Him, ask for PROVISION, ask for PARDON, ask for PROTECTION, PRAISE Him again, and say Amen! Amen means "May it be so/true", "it is true/certain" or "that's the truth" or as my kids like to say, "that's the T."

Also, as an image bearer: give God all the glory and PRAISE for your skills, talents, ability, and success. I am but a "PEN" in the hand of God. It is He who writes my story. A "PEN" does not deserve praise. (Richard Baxter) May I remember to give God all the glory for the great things He's done. Also, work hard to PROVIDE for others and yourself, PARDON or forgive others as Christ forgave us, ask Him to PROTECT you and others but do your PART and stay away from sin and evil things/people. End with acknowledging that what God says is true--"Amen!" He hears and answers PRAYERS! He keeps His PROMISES.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, clear, brief, and thoughtful. This was great as preparation for a Bible study on the petitions of the Lord's Prayer. Packer gives a lot of great suggestions for what this prayer teaches us and how to apply it to our lives.

[Sem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, but insightful. Interesting exposition of the Lord’s Prayer. Helpful for Bible studies with the addition of questions at the end of the chapters.

[nate]

I loved reading Packer's short book on The Lord's Prayer. While I was ostensibly using this to help me prepare sermons on this topic (in order to teach others), I was learning so much from Packer along the way. He has a way of assuming nothing of the reader, talking about the most basic issues of following Jesus, but diving deeply into each phrase and word of the prayer that Jesus taught us.

[Louis Lapides · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by J. I. Packer. He surely knows how to pack a lot of deep insights into 120 pages on the Lord’s Prayer. I’ve read a lot of books in the Lord’s Prayer. As a devotional adjunct to reading the prayer, I highly recommend this short book. Packer does not miss any opportunity to share his theological and practical principles that he gleans from this prayer.

[Jon Pentecost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edifying, brief meditations on each phrase of the Lord's Prayer. I especially appreciated the appended 'other portions of Scripture' that expanded on the themes Packer highlighted from the Lord's Prayer.
As always, Packer is a great example of heart-warming lucid brevity.

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

As expected from professor of theology, the author's hor book always heavy buat interesting to read. Others explained about the school of praying, but in this book the author states that praying is an experience that hard to teach, but here the basic from The Master being exposed.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. In this short book that I used in preparation for a sermon series on prayer, Packer breaks down the Lord's Prayer into small pieces and shows how overwhelming deep Jesus' words are. Very helpful book on the topic.

[William Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book.

[Jonathan Homesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good

[David Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who wants to learn to pray in the way Jesus commands us, this is a must-read. It is short and dense. It takes earnest thought to work through, and it is worth it.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packer truly is a believer of a different breed. He proves the notion that great genius reveals itself in elegant simplicity. A true Puritan (was) in our midst.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favourite book in the world and one I didn’t not enjoy reading very much. Although very short chapters.

[Anna Barroso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three Stars
Book 38 of 2025
Genre: Christian nonfiction
Format: Physical book

This book was short but meaty. And it took me way too long to get through (that’s always the case with physical books). I had to reread almost every paragraph because of how much information is in it.

I honestly think my review would be higher if it didn’t take me so long to work through–and that’s not due to needing to reread it, that’s just due to life.

[Garrett McLain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small and concise book that details the portions of the Lord’s Prayer. It was the first of its kind that helped me understand the wide applications of this prayer.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packer on Prayer Does Not Disappoint

Classic Packer. Ranks right up there with Philip Ryken’s, Al Mohler’s, and Justo Gonzalez’s books on the Lord’s Prayer. True to his name Packer packs so much sound theology and sound living in so few words. He also ends with a 1 to 2 sentence challenge regarding living what you are praying. These reminders are consistent with Gonzalez’s point that these are not just petitions we pray but dedications we live.

I read this in his larger book, Growing in Christ, which Includes not only the Lord’s Prayer but also the Apostles Creed, the Ten Commandments, and teaching on Baptism and Conversion.

[Shofam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the women's study for our church for the beginning of the year. While I appreciated the bite-sized looks at each phrase in the Lord's prayer, several of us thought that because it was pulled from a larger book it was missing some of the context and as a result felt choppy in places. Would still recommend it as a short but deep look into this well-known passage from the Bible.

[Charles Erlandson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teaches You to Meditate on the Lord's Prayer Phrase by Phrase.
See my review on Amazon, and click "Help" if it helped you!

[Jared Donis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fresh insights...

[Kevin Halloran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packer presents a helpful, phrase-by-phrase treatment on the Lord's Prayer broken up into 14 or 15 short chapters. This is a portion of the larger book Growing in Christ.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on the Lord’s Prayer. I leaned a great deal.

[Becky Pliego · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good.