Teach Us to Pray

Matthew 6:5-13 – And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Many people in Christ want to know how to pray. Many formulas and acronyms have been created, but our Lord has established how we are to pray in His teachings. Let’s break it down:

Don’t pray to be seen of men (Matthew 6:5).

People that pray in this manner are considered as hypocrites. Their focus is to pray for others to see how ‘spiritual’ them seem. They are hypocrites because they choose not to live the life they portray. Their reward is not answered prayer, but the applause of men.

Go to a private place (Matthew 6:6).

In comparison to those that pray openly to be seen of men, pray in secret. Pray by going in your closet (a hidden place) and shutting the door. What the Lord sees in secret, He will answer openly.

Keep your prayers to the point (Matthew 6:7-8).

Do not be like the heathens (pagans, sinners) that pray with vain repetitions. Those that pray in that manner believe they will be heard because of their repetitions and long prayers. Jesus says not to be like them because our Father knows what we have need of already (Matthew 6:25-34).

THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD PRAY

Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name (Matthew 6:9).

As we enter into prayer, we begin by acknowledging our Father that is in heaven. Hallowed (holy, set apart) is His Name. We must always keep in focus our Father that dwells in heaven…and our Father is to be honored, worshipped, and revered within our minds, hearts, and lips.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

We pray for the Kingdom of God to come and God’s will to be done. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is in within us (Luke 17:20-21). With the Kingdom of God within us (in our hearts), we will live in conformity to God’s standard and not our nature in the flesh (Jeremiah 31:31-34). As we pray for God’s Kingdom to come, we are asking for His Kingdom to be advanced in us and around the world by His Spirit.

We ask for God’s will to be done on earth as it is already being accomplished in heaven. In heaven, there is obedience to God’s Word and commands. There is holiness, honor, worship, reverence, and fear of Him. May God’s purposes be accomplished upon the earth as He moves upon the hearts and minds of men – beginning with you.

Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11).

Here, we are asking the Lord for what substance is required for this day and not the next day or next year. This is evidence that this prayer is to be made daily. Our hearts would be molded to seek God for our daily substance where we don’t have too much where we forget God or too little where we steal (Proverbs 30:7-9; Matthew 6:25-34).

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (Matthew 6:12).

We ask God to forgive us for our sins ONLY AS WE FORGIVE THOSE THAT SIN AGAINST US! Read Matthew 6:14-15. It is very, very, very dangerous to hold on to unforgiveness. Your eternal life with God is on the line:

Matthew 6:14-15 – For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Lead us not into temptation and closing (Matthew 6:13).

We can ask God not to lead us into temptation. When times of temptation come, the Lord will show us a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). He will deliver us (John 17:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:18), but we must be willing to look for that way through prayer, patience, and trust in Him.

At the conclusion of our prayer, we acknowledge the Kingdom (rule), power (ability), and glory (honor, exaltation, and preeminence) of our Father in Heaven…forever.

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