Our Model Prayer

Many of us are unsatisfied with our prayer life. We look to others who just seem to have all of the right words to say at all times. We are inspired when they pray but we just don’t know what to say ourselves.

Sometimes this results in a reluctance to pray at all, especially in public.

Even the disciples, who walked with Jesus Christ on a daily basis, seemed to have doubts about the appropriate approach to prayer.

Luke 11:1 (New International Version)
Jesus' Teaching on Prayer
1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

Most of us have committed the Lord’s Prayer, the Model Prayer to memory. This prayer becomes more fulfilling when we explore the magnificent wholeness in these simple words.

Matthew 6:9-13 (King James Version)
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Our Father, your father, my father. We have been given the right, as children of God, to come directly to him in prayer. Before the time of Jesus we were obligated to go to priests to intercede for us in the holy places. No layman was admitted on penalty of death. Now, Jesus himself has told us that we can directly say “Our Father”.

Which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. We acknowledge the greatness of God. We acknowledge that he is above all and we gladly give him the highest praise. .

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
We establish in our prayer a good order of things. Our first priority is to God then to our earthly concerns. It is for the glory of the Father that we pray. We know that His will is supreme. We know that things work out best for us when we submit to his will.

Give us this day our daily bread. God has promised to meet our needs when we put first the kingdom.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. This is accomplished in our model prayer. In our model prayer we seek first to glorify our God knowing that He will meet our needs.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors..
We take responsibility for the fact that we have sinned. We take responsibility for the fact that we have fallen short of the mark. We have debts owed to the Father and we need His mercy.. But how do we treat folks who have trespassed against us? How close are we to following his command in Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Are we anywhere near the mandate in Luke 6:31 to Do to others as you would have them do to you?

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil God has promised in (1 Corinthians 10:13),
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

God does not take Satan out of the equation. What he does do is give us the resources to deal with him. He gives us His Word. He gives us His Holy Spirit. He gives us the path to deliver us from evil. He gives us The Way.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Our “Model Prayer”. A beautiful gift from Jesus himself.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!