The Lord's Prayer
Q44. What does this mean?
We pray here that our Father in heaven would save us from every kind of evil — evil that hurts our bodies, our souls, our belongings, or our good name. And when the time comes for us to die, we pray that God would give us a blessed end and take us from this valley of sorrow to himself in heaven.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
2 Timothy 4:18
Psalm 91:14–16
Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Revelation 21:4
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
What different kinds of evil does the catechism list that can hurt us?
- 2
Why does the catechism talk about death as being taken from "this valley of sorrow" to heaven?
- 3
How does knowing God will bring us to himself change the way we think about hard things now?
Illustration
When you are sick in bed and miserable, it helps to know that your parent is right there and that the sickness will end. This world is full of sorrows that will one day end. God promises that he will take every believer from this broken world to be with him forever, where there are no more tears.
Application
If you know someone who is going through a hard time, pray this petition for them by name this week. Ask God to protect them from evil and to remind them that he is bringing them safely home.
Read Luther’s expanded teaching
From the Large Catechism (1529)