Our Position in Prayer
Part of Pray Like This—The Lord's Prayer
February 20, 2023

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Our Position in Prayer

When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9a Pray like this: —Matthew 6:7-9a

Jesus wasn’t giving them a prayer to repeat, but guidelines to provide prayer categories — a prayer template, if you will. —Dr. Tony Evans

Prayer = proseúxomai — To exchange wishes; literally, to interact with the Lord by switching human wishes or ideas for His wishes as He gives us faith.

Big Idea: The positions of our prayers are more significant than the practice of our prayers.

Big Question: What positions matter in our prayers?
Main Scripture: Matthew 6:9b

Our Father in heaven… —Matthew 6:9b


What positions matter in our prayers?
1.) A position of adoption

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” —Romans 8:15

God is not a bigger version of your earthly dad. He’s not a reflection of your earthly dad. He’s the perfection of your earthly dad. He’s everything you ever dreamed your earthly dad would be, and more. So if you’ve had a great earthly dad, that’s amazing, we celebrate him, but God is exponentially greater. And if you had no earthly dad, then the Heavenly Father wants to teach you what it is to have the blessing of a good Father on your life. —Louie Giglio

Catholics simply call this prayer the “Our Father.” I wonder if they’re onto something. Every line of the prayer flows from those two words: It all starts and ends with remembering Who we’re talking to. —Tyler Staton (Pray Like Monks, Live Like Saints)

I come to and speak to my good Heavenly Father as a loved, forgiven, redeemed, accepted, and reconciled son through Jesus Christ. He sees all of me, forgives anything in me, sanctifies every part of me, and has already experienced the deepest and darkest places of my soul through the continual pleadings, prayers, and intercession of the Holy Spirit and of Christ. Therefore, I share all, in full confidence that He wants to hear what He already sees.

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. —A. W. Tozer

Are there any lies I’m believing about God or myself that are hindering my relationship with Him, or my prayers to Him?


What positions matter in our prayers?
1.) A position of adoption
2.) A position of authority

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. —Romans 11:36

The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne. —Psalm 89:7

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. —1 Chronicles 29:11

In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’ —Luke 17:10

Are there any areas of my life I am not bringing under the authority of the Father?


What positions matter in our prayers?
1.) A position of adoption
2.) A position of authority
3.) A position of association

Being made his children, we are here directed to call him “Our Father,” to put us in mind that we are all brethren, and that we ought to love one another with pure hearts, fervently praying not only for ourselves, but for others, and especially for our brethren in Christ, that God may give them likewise the blessings requested in this divine prayer. —Benson Commentary

Our Father, who art in Heaven - You are God, and I am not, so I surrender my position to You. I come to You as a loved and accepted son, a humble servant, ready to do Your will, and a very small part of Your Body, the Church.

If you have surrendered your life to Jesus today, we’d like to celebrate that with you! Please text Life to 63566.