Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 50
125.
Q. What is the fourth petition?
A. “Give us this day our daily bread.” That is: be pleased to provide for all our bodily needs so that thereby we may acknowledge that you are the only source of all that is good, and that without your blessing neither our care and labor nor your gifts can do us any good. Therefore, may we withdraw our trust from all creatures and place it in you alone.
Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 49
124.
Q. What is the third petition?
A. “Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” That is: grant that we and all men may renounce our own will and obey your will, which alone is good, without grumbling, so that everyone may carry out his office and calling as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.
Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 48
123.
Q. What is the second petition?
A. “Your kingdom come.” That is: so govern us by your Word and Spirit that we may more and more submit ourselves unto you. Uphold and increase your church. Destroy the works of the devil, every power that raises itself against you, and all wicked schemes thought up against your holy Word, until the full coming of thy kingdom in which you shall be all in all.
Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 47
122.
Q. What is the first petition?
A. “Hallowed be your name.” That is: help us first of all to know you rightly, and to hallow, glorify, and praise you in all your works through which there shine your almighty power, wisdom, goodness, righteousness, mercy, and truth. And so order our whole life in thought, word, and deed that your name may never be blasphemed on our account, but may always be honored and praised.
Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 46
120.
Q. Why has Christ commanded us to address God: “Our Father”?
A. That at the very beginning of our prayer he may awaken in us the childlike reverence and trust toward God which should be the motivation of our prayer, which is that God has become our Father through Christ and will much less deny us what we ask him in faith than our human fathers will refuse us earthly things.
121.
Q. Why is there added: “in heaven”?
A. That we may have no earthly conception of the heavenly majesty of God, but that we may expect from his almighty power all things that are needed for body and soul.
Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 45
116.
Q. Why is prayer necessary for Christians?
A. Because it is the chief part of the gratitude which God requires of us, and because God will give his grace and Holy Spirit only to those who sincerely beseech him in prayer without ceasing, and who thank him for these gifts.
117.
Q. What is contained in a prayer which pleases God and is heard by him?
A. First, that we sincerely call upon the one true God, who has revealed himself to us in his Word, for all that he has commanded us to ask of him. Then, that we thoroughly acknowledge our need and evil condition so that we may humble ourselves in the presence of his majesty. Third, that we rest assured that, in spite of our unworthiness, he will certainly hear our prayer for the sake of Christ our Lord, as he has promised us in his Word.
118.
Q. What has God commanded us to ask of him?
A. All things necessary for soul and body which Christ the Lord has included in the prayer which he himself taught us.
119.
Q. What is the Lord’s Prayer?
A. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen”
Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 44
113.
Q. What is required in the tenth commandment?
A. That there should never enter our heart even the least inclination or thought contrary to any commandment of God, but that we should always hate sin with our whole heart and find satisfaction and joy in all righteousness.
114.
Q. But can those who are converted to God keep these commandments perfectly?
A. No, for even the holiest of them make only a small beginning in obedience in this life. Nevertheless, they begin with serious purpose to conform not only to some, but to all the commandments of God.
115.
Q. Why, then, does God have the ten commandments preached so strictly since no one can keep them in this life?
A. First, that all our life long we may become increasingly aware of our sinfulness, and therefore more eagerly seek forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Christ. Second, that we may constantly and diligently pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that more and more we may be renewed in the image of God, until we attain the goal of full perfection after this life.
