Probably, the scriptural passage that is recited most often, is Matthew 6: 10-13, of which, there is the standard basic translation that most congregants, or even non-congregants are well familiar with, and therein perhaps lies the rub. For the problem with any scriptural passage that is repeated often enough, without any real change to its cadence or to its words, is that the meaning behind that scriptural passage, oftentimes becomes lost or weakened, and those then that pray this particular passage, usually do so basically from memory and thereby merely mouth the words in a rote way, without any real passion or meaning.
One would think, that for those that are true God believers, that they would recognize that our God, deserves something better, than mere lip service from us. Fortunately, we live in a day and age in which the translations of Holy Scripture are not only incredibly robust, but also manifold; of which, it could be said, that there is a little bit of something for just about everyone, from the easy-to-read version, to the King James Bible, and everything, in-between. So too, there isn’t any reason why a particular individual, or a gifted writer, can’t look at scripture, and take the words so written, and put their own input on such, for inspiration, and for devotion, in which, for example, the incomparable Kahlil Gibran did so.
We read then as follows Kahlil Gibran’s interpretation of Matthew 6: 10-13:
Our Father in earth and heaven, sacred is thy name.
Thy will be done with us, even as in space.
Give us of the bread sufficient for the day.
In thy compassion forgive us and enlarge us to forgive one another.
Guide us towards thee and stretch down thy hand to us in darkness.
For thine is the kingdom and in thee is our power and our fulfilment.
It has to be said, that words do matter; and those that are able to write with a confident and sure poetic flair, have done so in devoted service to our good God, and for the overall benefit of humankind; indeed, doing their vital part to see that those that want to feel closer to God, are thereby able to better do so. It is vital for those of the spiritual sort, to revitalize their prayers, as well as their petitions, so that they are better able to appreciate the great majesty of our God. So too, it’s important for us, to from time-to-time take a given scriptural passage that we are well familiar with, and provide it with new impetus so that we can appreciate it more and at a deeper level, then formerly.
In short, half-hearted prayers, and those done without true devotion, are the type of prayers, that no good God, could ever really listen to; because they are, in fact, a pathetic form of spiritual laziness. After all, if God, isn’t worth the respect of us being forthright, devoted and honest with God, then we surely haven’t done all that we could do to convince God, that we are truly worthy servants that are thereby trying to be obedient to the dictates so necessary for our good and continual growth. That which is contained in the Holy Bible is expressly there for our benefit, and when we find ourselves, becoming spiritually dull, the least that we could do is to get reinvigorated by reading a different translation of that Bible or the inspiration from such, so provided to us by a gifted writer.