How Does Jesus Tell Us To Pray

What Jesus Christ Taught About Prayer

If you want to deepen your grasp of what the Bible teaches about prayer, there is no better place to begin than with an examination of Jesus’ teaching on prayer in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. This blog normally explains and uses Scripture to help you develop in Christ, but I urge readers of this piece to take up the words of our Savior and allow them to propel you into prayer. Another piece will discuss the prayers of Jesus, as well as how the Bible explains His approach to prayer. Pick up a copy of Herbert Lockyear’s All the Prayers of the Bible if you’re looking for a full list of what the Bible says about prayer.

Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer | Complete List of Bible Verses in the Gospels

Matthew 5:44–45a (King James Version) (also see Luke 6:28) Rather, I urge you to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be adopted as sons of your heavenly Father. Matthew 6:5-15 is a Bible verse that describes the life of Jesus. “And when you pray, you must avoid acting in a hypocritical manner. Because they enjoy standing and praying at synagogues and on street corners so that they may be seen by others, they have become quite popular. True to my word, I can assure you that they have earned their recompense.

Then you will be rewarded by your heavenly Father who sees in secret.” And when you pray, don’t fill your prayers with meaningless language as the Gentiles do, who believe that their many words will be heard because they are many.

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be sanctified,” you should pray at that point.

We beg you to grant us our daily food today, and please forgive us our debts, just as we have forgiven our debtors.

In other words, if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; nevertheless, if you do not forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will not forgive you for your trespasses.” 7-11 (Matthew 7:7-11) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and it will be found; knock, and it will be opened to you; this is the way of the universe.

  • Or which of you will give his kid a stone if he asks him for bread when he begs for it?
  • If you, who are wicked, can figure out how to give good gifts to your children, imagine how much more your heavenly Father will do the same for those who come to him with a good request.
  • Matthew 18:19-20 is a passage of scripture that teaches that And once again, I say to you, if two of you can come to an agreement on earth about whatever they ask, my Father in heaven will fulfill their request.
  • Matthew 21:13 (KJV) (also see Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46) ‘My house shall be called a place of prayer,’ according to the scriptures, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.
  • And anything you ask for in prayer will be granted to you if you have confidence in God.

Mark 11:23-26 (KJV) It is true, I say to you, whomever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and who does not have any doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, will have his wish fulfilled.’ In order to ensure that you obtain anything you ask for in prayer, I advise you to think that you have already been granted it.

  • Jesus said this in Mark 12:38–40 (also see Luke 20:45–47).
  • They prey on widows’ homes and recite long prayers under the appearance of being religious.
  • 13:33 (Matthew 13:33) Keep your guard up and your eyes open.
  • Luke 6:46 (NIV) Why do you address me as ‘Lord, Lord,’ but refuse to follow my instructions?
  • Praise the Lord of the harvest, therefore, and entreat him diligently to send out laborers into his crop.
  • We beg you to grant us our daily bread and to forgive us our sins, just as we forgive everyone who is owing us money.
  • I assure you that, though he will not get up and offer him anything because he is his buddy, he will rise and give him anything he requires as a result of his impudence.
  • Everyone who asks receives, and everyone who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened for him or her.
  • If you, who are bad, can figure out how to provide excellent gifts to your children, imagine how much more the heavenly Father will do for those who ask for the Holy Spirit!
  • Luke 18:1–14 |
  • “There was a judge in a specific city who was neither fearful of God nor respectful of man,” he said.

For a time, he refused, but then he said to himself, “Even though I have no fear of God or regard for man, because this widow keeps nagging me, I will grant her justice so that she will not beat me down by her constant coming.” “Listen to what the unjust judge has to say,” the Lord instructed.

Will he take a long time to deal with them?

Is it possible, though, that when the Son of Man arrives, there will be trust on earth?” The following parable was also given by Jesus to people who were self-righteous and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one of them a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.” ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, who are extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector,’ the Pharisee said as he stood alone in prayer.

Every week, I fast twice a week and donate tithes of all I earn.’ Although he was a long distance away, the tax collector refused to raise his eyes to heaven, instead beating his breast and pleading with God, ‘God, be gracious to me, a sinner!’ I swear to you, this man went down to his house feeling justified, rather than the other way around.

Luke 21:36 (NIV) Nevertheless, keep your eyes open at all times, hoping for the strength to escape all of the events that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 22:40 (NIV) And when he arrived at the location, he addressed them by saying, “Pray that you will not fall prey to temptation.” 4:23–24 (John 4:23–24) However, the hour is approaching, and it is already here, when real worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him in this manner.

God exists in the realm of spirit, and those who worship him must do so in spirit and in truth.” 14:12–14 (John 14:12–14) Because I am going to the Father, I promise you that whomever believes in me will also do the works that I perform; and greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father.

  • Anything you want me to do in my name, I will gladly oblige.
  • 15:16 in the Gospel of John However, you did not pick me; rather I chose you and appointed you, so that you would go forth and bear fruit and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name may be granted to your request.
  • What I sincerely believe is that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will grant you.
  • You haven’t asked any questions in my name up to this point.
  • These are the things I’ve spoken to you in figurative language.
  • That day, you will ask in my name; but please understand that I am not saying to you that I will beg the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have trusted that I am a prophet sent from God.

I have come from the Father and have entered the world, and now I am leaving the world and returning to the Father, as I spoke earlier. Three books on Jesus’ teachings on prayer that we recommend.

  • Calvin’s presentation of the Lord’s prayer, The Chief Exercise of Faith (his exposition of the Lord’s prayer)
  • The Prayer that Turned the World Upside Down by Albert Mohler
  • The Prayer that Turned the World Upside Down by Albert Mohler R.C. Sproul’s The Prayer of Our Lord is a classic.

Related Websites:

  • 10 Prayer-Inspirational Books to Read
  • A complete listing of the prayers of the apostle Paul
  • The Prayers of Jesus and His Prayer Life in the New Testament (a Comprehensive List)
  • Anxiety, worry, and fear are all addressed in ten of the best Psalms.

5 Ways Jesus Taught Us How to Pray

“Pray on a consistent basis.” 5:17 in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 in My niece is a senior in high school and I am her aunt. She will earn her diploma in a few short months, when she will walk in procession with the rest of her graduating class. My daughter was a newborn napping in my arms only a few short years ago. She used to like conversing with me when she was a youngster. She started as soon as she spotted me and didn’t stop until I had left the scene. It was she who informed me about her day, who tipped me off about her brother, and who outlined her ambitions for the future.

  • Although our chats are shorter now that she is a young woman, they are still enjoyable for me since she is so intelligent.
  • Her eagerness to reach out to me causes me to exclaim with delight.
  • The writers of the Psalms were well-versed in the art of prayer.
  • They did it on every occasion.
  • According to the advice of Paul in 1 Thessalonians, Jesus was in continual communication with the Father.
  • When Jesus made the decision to come down from the high regions of glory and walk among us, prayer was his lifeline to the Father.
  • His lessons on prayer provide a great deal of useful information.
  • Jenny Shinsky (@jennyshinsky) To send a tweet, simply click here.
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1. Jesus prayed alone.

The phone starts ringing. The television is on full blast. The kids are yelling and screaming. The activities of the day demand our immediate attention and draw us in a variety of ways at the same time. It’s possible that Jesus felt this way. He was always in demand to treat the ill and engage in political dispute with the Pharisees, both of which he did. While these disruptions are present throughout scripture, we frequently witness him taking a break from them. “However, Jesus frequently retreated to isolated spots to pray.” – Luke 5:16 (NIV) He did not wait till the people had dispersed and there was no one remaining to engage in dispute with him.

His devotion to prayer was second nature to him.

2. Jesus prayed with others.

Not only did Jesus teach his followers how to pray, but he also encouraged them to pray as a group. The Bible states in Matthew 18:20, “For when two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” The presence of God in prayer brings us all together. We become more sensitive of the needs of others and are better able to bring comfort to them.

Life may be challenging, and there aren’t always satisfactory solutions. Sometimes we are unable to pray because we do not know what to say or because we are unable to pray. That’s when the prayer community takes over and begins to pray for you on your behalf.

3. Jesus prayed before a meal.

Praying before meals was a typical occurrence in ancient times. In this rite, Jesus reminded his disciples of the blessings that God had granted them via the food that had been set before them. Then, as soon as he sat at the table with them, he took the bread and said thanks before breaking it and distributing the pieces to them.” Luke 24:30 is a Bible verse that describes a relationship between a man and a woman. Praying before each meal serves as a constant reminder that everything comes from God.

4. Jesus prayed for others.

Before he was caught and nailed to the cross, Jesus prayed for his apostles and followers. He was well aware that their task would not be straightforward, and he prayed for their safety. “I say a prayer for them. The people you have given me are not mine; they are yours.” “I am not praying for the world, but for the people you have given me.” John 17:9 (KJV) He prayed that God would reward them with tenacity, unity, and spiritual fulfillment as they shared their testimony with the rest of the world.

5. Jesus prayed for us.

Last but not least, Jesus interceded on our behalf. Yes, you are correct. He prayed for each and every one of us, despite the fact that we would not be born in this world for a very long time (hundreds of years). The prayer isn’t only for them, though. “I pray for people who will come to trust in me as a result of their message.” – The Gospel of John 17:20 And he has never ceased praying for us throughout his life. He is our representative before God’s throne, and he intercedes on our behalf before the Almighty.

It is essential to spend time in prayer on a regular basis.

I’m sure he does.

You can do it.

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How to Pray for Jesus (Jesus Prayer)

Bible Gateway Luke 11 : NIV

The Jesus Prayer: A Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Some manuscripts are from Our Father in heaven, while some manuscripts are from the earth. Wishing you the fulfillment of your will on earth as it is in heaven
  2. Everyone who owes us money is referred to as “greeks.” We may be tempted by certain writings, but they will save us from the wicked one. Orpersistence
  3. Some texts, when asked for bread, will offer him a stone
  4. Or, if he asks for Greek, he will receive it. BeezeboulorBeelzeboul, which appears in verses 18 and 19 as well. Greekunclean
  5. Also in verse 32, there’s something. Alternatively, whatever you have

How Jesus Teaches us to Pray — MacGregor EMC

Others come from Our Father in heaven, while others are written by us on this side of the world. Wishing you the fulfillment of your will on earth as it is in heaven. Each and every one of our creditors; everyone who owes us money. We may be tempted by certain texts, but they will save us from the wicked one; Orpersistence; He will receive a stone in exchange for bread from certain scrolls; alternatively he will be given Greek bread if he requests it. Similarly, in verses 18 and 19, the word beezeboulor is used.

  1. When we pray, we should remember that God is a loving and caring Father. Someone who is very good and deserving of our appreciation. Somebody whose Will for the world is something we know to be in the best interests of humanity
  2. To express our gratitude to this God for providing for our needs, as we know he will because we understand him to be our father, and that is exactly what this father does. In accordance with this, we should pray that He continues to provide so that we never forget what our God has done or is doing for us
  3. To recognize, in light of all of this, that God feels the same way about everyone as he does about us, and as a result, recognize that to love God as he loves us means we must also love others as he loves us
  4. To recognize that to love God as he loves us means we must also love others as he loves us
  5. The third step is to internalize the previously mentioned ideas to the point where we can remain firm in our connection with God when we face difficulties in our lives.

We must keep in mind while we pray that God is our adoring and protective Father. a person who is exceptional and deserving of our admiration Somebody whose Will for the world is something we know to be in the best interests of everybody; to express our gratitude to this God for providing for our needs, as we know he will because we understand him to be our father, and that is exactly what our father does. In accordance with this, we should pray that He continues to provide so that we never forget what our God has done or is doing for us; to recognize, in light of all of this, that God feels the same way about everyone as he does about us, and as a result, recognize that to love God as he loves us means that we must also love others as he loves us; to recognize that to love God as he loves us means that we must also love others as he loves us; The third step is to internalize the previously mentioned ideas to the point where we can stand firm in our connection with God when we face difficulties in our lives.

Jesus Taught Us How to Pray With the Lord’s Prayer

“Lord, teach us to pray,” one of Jesus’ disciples requests in the Gospel of Luke 11:1-4, and as a result of this request, Jesus teaches them the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer has become very well known and even memorized among Christians. The Our Father is the name given by Catholics to the Lord’s Prayer. When people of all Christian faiths come together in public or private worship, it is one of the most often said prayers in both public and private worship.

The Lord’s Prayer

  • Known as the Lord’s Prayer, it is the model of prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. Both Matthew 6:9-15 and Luke 11:1-4 have variants of the prayer that may be found in the Bible. While Matthew’s version is a part of the Sermon on the Mount, Luke’s version comes in response to a disciple’s plea that Jesus teach them how to pray. Catholics refer to the Lord’s Prayer as the Our Father, which means “Our Father.” The prayer is intended for the entire community, including the Christian family.

The Lord’s Prayer in the Bible

In their respective Gospels, Matthew and Luke give the Lord’s Prayer in slightly different ways. In Matthew, Jesus is presenting his Sermon on the Mount, in which he explains that God’s righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, and that this is the case even today. He cautions his disciples against engaging in false piety just for the sake of being observed by others. During his way to Jerusalem, Jesus teaches the Lord’s prayer, according to the Gospel of Luke. As their rabbi, the disciples looked to Jesus as a model of a man who was devoted to prayer.

The complete text of The Lord’s Prayer may be found in Matthew 6:9-15, which reads: So, here’s what you should say in your prayers:” “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Please provide us with our daily bread today.

‘And do not lead us into temptation, but preserve us from the wicked one,’ says the Lord.

However, if you do not forgive men for their crimes, your Father will not forgive you for your sins as well.

Jesus Teaches the Pattern for Prayer

Jesus Christ provided us with a template or model for prayer in the form of the Lord’s Prayer. He was demonstrating how to pray to his followers. There’s nothing mystical about the words you’re reading. The prayer is not a set of instructions. We are not have to pray the lines exactly as they are written. As a substitute, we might utilize this prayer to educate ourselves, instructing us on how to approach God in prayer. In order to assist you in developing a complete grasp of the Lord’s Prayer, the following is a simplified explanation of each section:

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Our Father in Heaven

Jesus Christ provided us with a template or model for prayer in the form of the Lord’s prayer. A lesson in prayer was being imparted to his disciples. There’s nothing mystical about the words you’ve just read! There is no method for praying. We are not required to pray the lines exactly as they are written in the Bible.

Rather, we may utilize this prayer to enlighten us, instructing us on how to approach God in prayer via repetition. In order to assist you in developing a complete comprehension of the Lord’s Prayer, the following is a simplified breakdown of each section:

Hallowed Be Your Name

“To make holy” is the definition of the word “hallowed.” When we pray, we acknowledge the sanctity of our heavenly Father. He is near to us and shows concern, yet he is neither our friend nor our equal. He is the All-Powerful God. Not with a sense of impending doom and dread, but rather with awe for his purity and an acknowledgement of his righteousness and perfection, we approach him. We are awestruck by the fact that we are his children even in his holiness.

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done, on Earth As It Is in Heaven

Prayers are offered for God’s omnipotent dominion in our lives as well as on our planet. He is the ruler of our kingdom. We acknowledge that he has complete control over the situation, and we submit to his authority. Furthermore, we wish that God’s Kingdom and dominion be extended to those in our immediate environment. a. As Christians, we pray for the salvation of souls because we are aware of God’s desire for all men to be saved.

Give Us Today Our Daily Bread

When we pray, we put our faith in God to provide for our needs. He is going to take care of us. At the same time, we have no reason to be concerned about the future. We rely on God, our heavenly Father, to give us with all we require today. We shall renew our reliance on him by returning to him in prayer once more the next day.

Forgive Us Our Debts, As We Also Forgive Our Debtors

When we pray, we beg God to forgive us of our sins. We examine our hearts, acknowledge that we are in need of his forgiveness, and confess our transgressions. In the same way that our Father kindly forgives us, we must also forgive one another for our failings. If we want to be forgiven, we must be willing to provide the same forgiveness to others around us.

Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From the Evil One

Our prayers are addressed to God, who we implore to pardon us. We examine our hearts, admit that we are in need of his forgiveness, and confess our transgressions to him. We must forgive one another for our failings, just as our Father kindly forgives us. Those who wish to be forgiven must first forgive those who do not deserve it.

The Lord’s Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer (1928)

Our Father, who art in the highest heavens, we exalt thy holy name. Come, Lord, to thy kingdom. On earth as it is in heaven, thy will be done. Please provide us with our daily bread on this day. Moreover, forgive us our transgressions, just as we forgive those who transgress against us. And save us from falling prey to temptation, but keep us safe from evil. Because the kingdom, the power, and the glory belong to you forever and ever. Amen.

Here’s How—and Why—Jesus Says We Should Pray

A pub was being erected in a community that was completely devoid of alcohol. Unanimously, Christians expressed their opposition to the building and launched a 24-hour prayer gathering, imploring God to intervene. Lightning hit the structure, causing it to burn to the ground. The bar’s owner filed a lawsuit against the Christians, alleging that they were responsible for the incident. The Christians obtained the services of an attorney, stating they were not at fault. In his ruling, the court stated, “No matter how this issue is resolved, one thing is clear: the bar owner believes in prayer, whereas the Christians do not.” Do you truly believe in the power of prayer?

So, if you ever intend to come to know God and, in turn, come to know yourself, you must pray.

In “What Jesus Says You Should Pray For,” we described prayer as “asking God for the right things in the right way.” However, as we pointed out in that essay, this definition does not cover all of the aspects of prayer that are important.

Prayer is a process of listening, adoring, and bending our wills into God’s will, among other things. After discussing the five things we should ask for when praying in part one, let’s move on to part two.

  1. God’s reputation should be revealed as holy in our lives (Luke 11:2)
  2. God’s love and justice should reign on earth (Matthew 6:10
  3. Luke 11:2)
  4. We should pray for daily provisions (Luke 11:3)
  5. We should pray for forgiveness of sin (Luke 11:4)
  6. We should pray for God to protect us from temptation (Luke 11:4)
  7. We should pray for God to protect us from evil (Luke 11:4)
  8. We should pray for

Here, we’ll discuss how we should pray and why we should pray in this manner.

How We Should Pray

In this essay, we’ll look at how we should pray as well as why we should pray in this manner.

Why We Should Pray This Way

We can enter God’s presence with confidence since Jesus informed us that the Father promised to hear and respond to our petitions. “And so I say to you: ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” According to Luke 11:9–10, “whoever asks will receive; and whoever seeks will find; and to whomever knocks, the door will be opened.” More plainly stated in the Message: “Here’s what I’m trying to say: If you ask, you will receive; if you seek, you will discover; if you knock, the door will open.

  1. God is not one to be bargained with.
  2. Inquire about what you require.
  3. God will disclose it to you if you pursue it rather than simply waiting around.
  4. What have you been requesting, looking for, or banging on the door about?
  5. Alternatively, have you been tepid and uninterested?
  6. God is under no obligation to respond to any of our requests, though He may choose to do so in certain cases.
  7. What happens if God does not respond to your prayer?

You should probably check your heart.

Is there anybody from whom you need to ask forgiveness, or anyone from whom you need to be forgiven?

Having trust and obedience to God’s Word and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, are you praying?

If everything in your heart and motivations is in order, but your prayer has gone unanswered, wait patiently and persistently in your asking, seeking, and knocking until God responds.

Jesus explains that this is due to the fact that dads like giving wonderful presents to their children.

He will not, for example, deliver a scorpion to someone who asks for an egg, will he?

(11:11–13) In the same way that we, who are bad in the eyes of God (as we are), love our children enough to give them helpful gifts instead of harmful ones, God will do the same for us by giving us good gifts—including the gift of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit, who is both Comforter and Teacher.

  • In the course of our day, prayer is the largest and most significant discussion we will have.
  • It is possible for infant lips to babble and intelligent lips to baffle, yet the Lord listens in His heaven and acts on His earth in both cases.
  • So, take a deep breath and say a prayer out loud for a few moments.
  • Jeter’s “The Spiritual Discipline of Prayer, Part 1,” which was delivered as part of the series “Building Spiritual Muscles” on January 25, 2009 at the Stonebriar Community Church’s Coffee House Fellowship in Frisco, Texas.

Derrick G. Jeter owns the copyright to this work. All rights are retained around the world. Permission has been granted to use.

Derrick G. Jeter

With a master’s degree in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, Derrick G. Jeter has worked as a writer for the Creative Ministries Department of Insight for Living Ministries. More than twenty-five novels have been written by him or with whom he has collaborated. He has written for a number of important websites, and he now works as a contributing writer for The Christian Post (UK). He and his wife, Christy, are the parents of five children and reside in the greater Dallas region. Derrick G.

Jeter

Lord, Teach Us to Pray!

I recently made a blog entry for another website about “Jesus’ Prayer Life,” which you can read here. As I was conducting research, I came across the narrative of the disciples who asked Jesus, “Lord, show us how to pray! ” Jesus had been praying in front of the disciples, and when he had finished, they approached him and requested for assistance in their prayer lives. My spiritual journey has not been without its challenges. I was intrigued by the idea! It is unclear what it was in Jesus’ prayers that prompted the disciples to request that he teach them how to pray.

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Teach Us to Pray Scripture

“One day, Jesus was praying in a particular location. Following his conclusion, one of his followers approached him and asked, ‘Lord, teach us how pray.’ Luke 11:1a New International Version The disciples had seen Jesus pray several times and had taken note of it. They could see that prayer was a significant part of his life since he prayed often. They must have observed something odd about his prayer style that they thought was noteworthy. It inspired them to learn how to pray in the same way He did.

As we can see, Jesus was “filled with pleasure through the Holy Spirit” when he prayed, saying, “I praise you, Father, Lord of the heavens and the world.” Luke 10:21a is a passage from the Bible that teaches that God is a kind and forgiving God.

It’s no surprise that the disciples wanted to learn how to pray like Jesus did.

Prayers of Jesus

I forget from time to time that Jesus and the disciples were devout and loyal Jewish men who followed the law of Moses. They would have said a large number of Jewish prayers. Prayer was customarily held at three times during the day: at daybreak, 3 p.m. (to coincide with the daily afternoon sacrifice at the temple), and at dusk. They contained the Jewish creed (derived from Deuteronomy 6:4-7), blessings, and prayers performed as hymns, as well as the Jewish credo and blessings. The traditional Jewish prayers were also uttered before and after each meal, on the Sabbath and at Passover, as well as at religious services.

The disciples had already established a fairly active prayer life for themselves! They, on the other hand, had heard Jesus praying and wanted to know more. They wished to pray in the same way He prayed, with the same intensity, passion, and closeness that they had never experienced before.

What Jesus Taught about Prayer

“When you pray.”, Jesus begins his instructions to the disciples in answer to their request. Luke 11:2 (New International Version). It is important to note that Christ did not say IF you pray, but when you pray. Jesus was well aware of the difficulties that His followers (and us!) would face. He was well aware that they would require a strong relationship with Him and the Father in order to navigate their way through the world. In order to maintain an intimate and continuing personal relationship with Him, they would require a vigorous prayer life.

Bible Verses that Teach us How to Pray

Jesus clarified that He desires pure and modest motivations in our prayers, and that we should pray as He instructs. The New International Version (NIV) of Matthew 6:6a instructs his students to “go into your room, lock the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” He was not banning individuals or groups from praying in public. He was referring to the reasons that one has for prayer. Jesus was able to see right through people who preferred to pray in public rather than in private. It exposed their genuine aim in prayer: to be praised by other people.

Our prayer “audience” is comprised of only one person: Jesus.

In verse 7, Jesus instructs us to “when you pray, do not carry on babbling like pagans, for they believe that their many words will be heard because they are numerous.” Long periods of prayer were also not prohibited by Jesus.

To demonstrate to the disciples that “they should constantly pray and never give up,” Jesus gave them a parable from Luke 18 (the Parable of the Persistent Widow).

Why We Pray

His goal, once again, was to avoid useless, impersonal, and time-consuming prayer. It does not increase the genuineness of our prayers in any way. No, we are not praying with the intent of convincing God of anything. God can only be reached via prayer, which must be honest, loving and genuine in nature. It’s important to remember that passionate prayers put at Jesus’ feet are like delicious incense (Revelation 5:8). He wants to hear from us! Make a note of it for later!

Teach Us How to Pray

“This, therefore, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,'” says Matthew 6:9 in the New International Version.

Jesus Calls God “Father”

It appears that nearly all of Jesus’ prayers recorded in the Bible have Him addressing God as “Father.” In response to this new wrinkle in prayer, what did the disciples think? “Father” – Abba – was a term that the Jewish people would never have dared to use to approach God since it meant “Daddy.” It would have been considered insulting by them. It was the same name that the disciples would have given to their own biological dads. The fact that they addressed God as their Father was a revolutionary method for them to pray!

It was seen as blasphemy by them.

He has given us the go-ahead to approach the King of the Universe and address him as our Father in the name of Jesus. Yes, He is magnificent and holy, and we are to revere his name, but He is also our personal and loving Father, and we are to honor him.

Breaking Down the Lord’s Prayer

I’m using the New International Version of Matthew 6:9-13. It may also be found in Luke 11:2-4, which is a New Testament passage. This model prayer has its origins in the ceremonial Jewish practices of Jesus’ day, which I found to be rather intriguing to learn about. My favorite part of this prayer is how Jesus incorporated this thread of old Jewish prayer into one of the most well-known Christian prayers. The disciples would have noted the parallels between the two passages. Jesus was not instructing his disciples to memorize and mechanically recite this prayer on a regular basis, as some have suggested (as we see from his prior teaching.) The act of praying allows us to connect with God and become closer to Him.

This is not to imply that this prayer cannot be offered in a Spirit-filled manner.

Jesus is able to look into our hearts and feelings.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”

As you begin your prayer, remember to express your gratitude to our holy and magnificent God, who not only sits on the throne, but also calls us His beloved children and asks us to view him as our “Abba”- our Daddy.

“Your kingdom come”

Upon his arrival on the planet, Jesus took with him a piece of the heavenly kingdom, including the message that anybody who desires it may find redemption; he also raised up the poor and downtrodden, healed those who were sick, and performed miracles that demonstrated his splendor and might. Although he understood his Father’s kingdom plan would not be fully realized until He returned in glory, he was nevertheless hopeful.

“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

Pray with complete submission and confidence in the Father’s perfect plan. When Jesus said, “not my will, but yours be done,” he was surrendering and praying this prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke 22:42 (NIV) (NIV).

“Give us today our daily bread”

Pray for a total dependence on God and all of his talents in all circumstances. His daily bread is not just bodily nourishment, but also His love, healing, direction, and calm, all of which provide spiritual nourishment for our spirits.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”

Pray a continual confession of sins and a continual prayer for forgiveness. Despite the fact that our salvation is secured via Jesus’ sacrifice, our daily sins continue to offend God. Having a heart attitude of developing in faith and becoming more and more like Him is shown in repenting and begging for forgiveness. It is our acknowledgement of our understanding of and complete acceptance of God’s forgiveness for our own personal sins that we show forgiveness to others. Refusing to forgive others is equivalent to refusing to acknowledge and acknowledge the sacrifice that God incurred in order to forgive us in the first place.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”

Constantly confess your sins and ask for forgiveness via your prayers. Our salvation is assured by Jesus’ death on the cross, yet our everyday sins continue to irritate the Holy Spirit. Having a heart attitude of developing in faith and becoming more and more like Christ is shown in repenting and begging for forgiveness.

When we forgive others, we are confessing that we understand and have received God’s forgiveness for our own personal sins in their full measure. It is the refusal and denial of how much it cost God to forgive us that leads to the refusal and denial of the cost of God’s forgiveness.

We Need to Pray

Prayer can be one of our most difficult challenges, but it can also be our greatest source of peace and joy. Prayer does not need the acquisition of new “techniques” or the “mastery” of a script. God does not evaluate our passionate petitions, does not seek perfection, and does not dismiss any plea as being too insignificant! In its simplest form, prayer is just spending time talking to God, listening for his love and direction, and developing our connection with him. When we find ourselves struggling with prayer, we may always turn to Jesus and ask, “Lord, teach us to pray!” like the disciples did.

AnnMarie Canva is the source of the image.

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