Don Moen - Our Father Lyrics
Lyrics
Hear our prayer
We are your children and we're gathered here today
We're gathered here to pray
Hear our cry
Lord we need your mercy and we need you peace today
Hear us as we pray
Chorus
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Our Father hear us from heaven
Forgive our sins we pray
Hear our song, as it rises to heaven
May your glory fill the earth like waters in the seas
Clean our hearts and remove anything
That is standing in your way
Of loving us today!
REPEAT CHORUS
And though we are few
We're surrounded by many who have crossed that river before
And this is the song we'll be singing forever
Holy is the Lord x2
REPEAT FIRST VERSE AND CHORUS
Video
Don Moen - Our Father | Live Worship Sessions
Meaning & Inspiration
Don Moen’s "Our Father," released on May 13, 2003, as part of the powerful album *God Will Make a Way: A Worship Musical*, stands as a profound testament to the timeless posture of Christian prayer and dependence. This track emerges not merely as a song, but as a collective declaration of faith, perfectly encapsulating the universal longing for divine connection and forgiveness that defines much of the worship experience. Its release within a musical context further underscores its narrative weight, serving as a pivotal moment of communal invocation.
The heart of "Our Father" beats with a clear, singular purpose: to lead believers into a genuine encounter with God through prayer. It begins by establishing a fundamental relationship, portraying the gathered community as "Your children," humbly seeking an audience with their Heavenly Parent. This immediate plea, "Hear our prayer," sets an intimate tone, acknowledging God's attentiveness to His people, a truth echoed throughout Scripture, as Psalm 34:17 assures us that "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them." The song progresses from this initial plea to an honest admission of need, declaring, "Lord we need your mercy and we need your peace today." This resonates deeply with the human condition, recognizing our inherent shortcomings and the chaotic world we navigate, finding solace in the promise of God’s steadfast love and tranquil presence that surpasses all understanding, as described in Philippians 4:7.
The central chorus of the song is a direct embrace of the prayer Jesus Himself taught His disciples, beginning with "Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." This invocation is not merely a recitation but a profound act of worship, elevating God’s sacredness and majesty above all else, as enjoined in Matthew 6:9. When the song continues, "Our Father hear us from heaven, Forgive our sins we pray," it personalizes the Lord’s Prayer, transforming it into an urgent, collective petition for absolution. It directly addresses the need for spiritual cleansing, mirroring 1 John 1:9, which promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness. This segment beautifully highlights God's accessibility and His willingness to pardon those who genuinely seek Him.
Further into the composition, the song transitions into an aspiration for global spiritual renewal. The request to "Hear our song, as it rises to heaven," speaks to the power of worship, envisioning a future where God’s "glory fill the earth like waters in the seas." This imagery directly evokes prophetic visions from Habakkuk 2:14 and Numbers 14:21, which declare that "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." This powerful declaration shifts the focus from individual need to a universal hope for God’s kingdom to manifest tangibly. The subsequent lines, "Clean our hearts and remove anything That is standing in your way Of loving us today!" serve as a sincere introspection and a desperate cry for sanctification. It acknowledges internal barriers—sin, pride, apathy—that hinder a full experience of God’s boundless affection, recalling Psalm 51:10’s prayer for a clean heart and a renewed spirit, and reminding us that our iniquities separate us from God, as Isaiah 59:2 states.
The bridge offers a particularly inspiring perspective on the communion of saints, acknowledging the present assembly, "And though we are few," while recognizing a vast, eternal company: "We're surrounded by many who have crossed that river before." This powerful imagery speaks to the great cloud of witnesses mentioned in Hebrews 12:1, linking believers on earth with those who have gone before, united in their faith and worship. The "river" serves as a gentle metaphor for death, leading to the eternal presence of God. This segment culminates in the declaration, "And this is the song we'll be singing forever, Holy is the Lord," echoing the ceaseless worship in heaven described in Revelation 4:8 and Isaiah 6:3, where angels perpetually declare God’s holiness. This connection bridges time and eternity, asserting that our worship now is a foretaste of the endless praise awaiting us. Don Moen’s "Our Father" is ultimately more than a musical piece; it is a profound theological statement, a guide to corporate prayer, and an encouraging anthem that unifies believers across generations and realms in the sacred act of adoring a compassionate and forgiving God.