Matthew 6:9 “Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'”

As you know by now, my idea of prayer is not some ritualistic equation to be said in a certain order. With that said, the Lord's prayer is a wonderfully beautiful and fulfilling prayer and always soothes me when I pray it. Looking at the prayer, I don't think that Jesus was saying that this was how every prayer was to be formed (as much as some certain pastors would like to teach). So here is what I think. Take it or leave it as you want, do your own research on this passage, but this is my opinion.

“Our father in heaven”
This is a reminder for us about whom we are praying to. I think that it also obliquely references the entire history of God with His children to recall His mighty miracles past and present – the splitting of the Red Sea, the downfall of Jericho, Elijah's alter, Daniel's salvation, Christ's coming and miracles, the rending of the temple shroud, the persecution and yet spread of Christianity, Paul's continued life despite several attempted killings, etc. This is a short list of all the miracles and mighty signs and wonders He has given us down through the years even down to today.

Matthew 23:9 “...for you have one Father, who is in heaven.”
Psalm 22:4 “In you our fathers trusted;they trusted, and you delivered them.”
Matthew 5:48 “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Luke 6:36 “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
John 6:40 “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'”
Psalm 89:26 “He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father,my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'”
Hebrews 12:7 “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”
John 16:27 “for the Father himself loves you...”
1 John 3:1 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”
1 Corinthians 8:6 “yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”
Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Luke 11:13 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

“Hallowed be your name”
Literally this means “Your name is Holy, may it be always treated with reverence” This helps to place us before the King of Kings, the Creator of the World, the Saviour of our souls, and most importantly our loving, merciful, just Father and friend of all friends. We need to remember to whom we are talking to, not to scare us or anything but to remind us of His love for us and His bounty and resources that He has at his disposal just for us!

Philippians 4:20 “To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”