Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer is the model that Jesus gives us on how to pray. It is found in Matthew:

Matthew 6:9-14 – Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (ESV)

To simplify this model, let’s break it up into several categories:

1. Praise God
2. Confess your Sin
3. Pray for Others
4. Pray for Yourself

Praise God

Praising God is the first and foremost thing you should do in a prayer.

Psalm 9:1 - I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. (ESV)

Often in prayer, we go straight to what we want. Our desires tend to be in the front of our mind. But first, we should thank God for all the wonderful things He has done for us. Thank God for giving you life, health, family, friends, food, shelter, etc. Doing this helps us have a more positive outlook on life. As Christians, we should look at the glass as half full, not as half empty.

Confess your Sin

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

Next, we are to confess our sins to God. God can take your sins and cleanse you of them. He can turn your mistakes into knowledge, strength, and power. Power to prevent you from making the same mistake twice, and teaching others to avoid making your mistakes.

Pray for Others

Now we pray for the needs of others. We should pray for their health, finances, relationships, but most of all their spiritual maturity. This includes your friends, family, neighbors, and even your enemies.

Matthew 5:44-45 – But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of you Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (ESV)

Remember that it is not our job to judge our enemies, it is God’s. This is why we should pray for them.

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