“The second petition [Thy Kingdom Come], like the others, does two things: it humbles us and it raises us up. It humbles us because it compels us with our own lips to confess our great and pitiable misery. But it raises us up because it shows us how to conduct ourselves in such abasement. Every word of God terrifies and comforts us, it hurts and heals; it breaks down and builds up; it plucks and plants again; it humbles and exalts [Jer. 1:10].”

Luther, Martin. “An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer for Simple Laymen” (1519) Luther’s Works Vol. 42. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969), page 37.