How Should We Pray?
Summarize what is prayer and why do we pray?
How do we not pray?
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. —Matthew 6:5-6
We don’t pray to impress other people, we pray to God and for His attention alone
Standing vs. kneeling- we need to pray with humility
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. —Matthew 6:7-8
We don’t need to be elaborate, formal, or wordy, God wants us to approach Him as we are
How do we pray?
9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
9 “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. —Matthew 6:9-15
Addressing God appropriately:
So that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. —Titus 3:7
“Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. —Leviticus 19:2
Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy! —Psalm 99:9
And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” —Isaiah 6:3
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
His kingdom not ours, submission to His will, to have earth as it is in heaven
Why would you not want God’s will in your life?
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. —Jeremiah 29:11
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. —Psalms 139:13-14
God’s plan was for us to have a perfect relationship with Him, we screwed it up, and then He fixed it. Jesus came to save us, to fix our mistake, why would you not want God’s will to be done? His will is good for us!
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
Ask for your needs:
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. —John 15:7
For nothing will be impossible with God.” —Luke 1:37
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Forgive us, and help us forgive others
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. —Ephesians 4:32
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” —Luke 17:3-4
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. —Colossians 3:13
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Asking for help in our weaknesses
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. —1 Corinthians 10:13
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Mark 14:38
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. —James 4:7
This is a prayer formula, this is not what you pray every time, but it provides a guide of how you are to pray. We see God has a unique relationship with all of us, but the same primary elements are universal, we need to remember who we are addressing and give Him His rightful glory, we submit to His will, and establish His kingdom, not our, we are to express our needs, we are to repent for our sins, and we are to forgive those who have sinned against us. What part of this example do you need to improve in your prayer life?