Happy Wednesday, My Lovelies! Are you excited about Thanksgiving tomorrow? I know I am! I'm looking forward to delicious food and spending time with my husband and daughter. We might even watch a little football, too!
Today I am sharing in my What I'm Reading Wednesday post Bringing Heaven Here: How the Lord's Prayer Can Change Your Life and Our World by Brad Gray and Brad Nelson.
About Bringing Heaven Here: How the Lord’s Prayer Can Change Your Life and Our World
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 25, 2025)
• Hardcover: 237 pages
From the creators of the global television series The Sacred Thread comes a transformative exploration of how the Lord’s Prayer unlocks the power of God to guide, heal, and renew our lives and the world around us.
The Lord’s Prayer is the most iconic and widely spoken prayer in human history. It’s not only a sacred prayer, but the very essence of the Bible’s message—showing us who God is, why Jesus came, and how we fit into the unfolding story of God’s redemption. Yet, familiarity often dulls the power of this profound prayer, leaving its deep meaning untapped and unlived.
Every single phrase of the Lord’s Prayer is loaded with revolutionary significance for Jesus’ original audience—and for us. In this book, Brad Gray and Brad Nelson draw on decades of research to unpack these words in their original historical and cultural context, revealing the bold truths that can still shake our lives today.
You’ll discover how to:
- partner with Jesus in bringing heaven here by aligning your daily actions and influence with His kingdom and will.
- gain wisdom to mend broken relationships and stand against the forces of evil.
- understand what Jesus’ words meant to his original audience.
- gain confidence and peace from bearing God’s name, goodness, and glory to the world.
- experience each moment as holy—as an opportunity for the life of heaven to be a part of your life now.
We are called to actively participate in Jesus’ mission to restore all things, bringing the abundance of heaven to earth. Bringing Heaven Here will unveil the hidden truths and untapped power of the world’s most famous prayer—and show how it applies to your life today. Discover how to stay rooted in Him, embrace the purpose He has for you, and let the Lord’s Prayer guide you into a life of true transformation.
My Impressions So Far
I can read fairly quickly, y'all. And although I've read a big chunk of this book, the rereads are slowing me down. There is so much information about this prayer (especially the historical/contextual tidbits) that I find myself rereading entire chapters! One thing I never knew is that Jesus may have shaped the Lord's Prayer from the Kaddish, which is the mourner's prayer. After reading the Kaddish, I can certainly see how Jesus might have used the framework of the prayer and transformed it into a prayer about how "God's kingdom works intself out and into the lives of others through us" (p. 35).
First of all, I didn't think I would like reading this book because it is coauthored by two friends. My perception was that each author would present his own interpretation and application to his life. I was so wrong! What the two Brads have done is take certain aspects of the prayer, line for line, and expound on them. Let me give you an example. For "in the heavens" (who art in heaven), Brad Gray discusses "The One Who Sits Above It All." In the next chapter, Brad Nelson shares "The One Who Is Always Near."
So far the chapter on forgiveness "Make Us People of Release" is my very favorite. Forgiveness is so hard, but it is obviously a very large part of God's kingdom because Jesus taught us to pray about it, to not only ask for forgiveness from Our Father, but to forgive others who have wronged us and those we love. I have read this chapter several times, and I probably need to read it often because it is so instructive.
If you want to learn more about The Lord's Prayer and enjoy reading about biblical history, I think you will love this book. The history is presented in a straightforward way, and it is not a "dry read" at all. The anecdotes both authors share from their own lives are interesting and engaging. It's a nice mix.
I also thought you might be interested in reading the authors' version of the Lord's Prayer below.
Our Father in the heavens,holy 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 powerand the glory forever. Amen.
Disclosure: I received a hardback copy of Bringing Heaven Here: How the Lord's Prayer Can Change Your Life and Our World from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
TLC review tour:
Monday, November 24th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Wednesday, November 26th: The Bookish Dilettante
Monday, December 1st: @dana.loves.books
Wednesday, December 3rd: @deannaturnsthepage
Thursday, December 4th: @gigithebibliophile
Friday, December 5th: @oilycaffeinatedmama
Monday, December 8th: @teaandbookstoo and Readi
Wednesday, December 10th: @the.joy.within.every.
Friday, December 12th: @suzylew_bookreview
Monday, December 15th: @beckys_bookshelves
Friday, December 19th: @lovemybooks2020
Until next time...
Happy reading!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Post a Comment
Comments are friendly!