Prayer is about communicating with God. If we don’t pray, how do we know who God really is? It helps keep God first in our life.
What better way to look at prayer than to look at the sample prayer Jesus Christ gave to us. There are many lessons contained within these verses.
One of which we can see, is what prayer does for the Christian life.
Matthew 6:9-13 NIV “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today 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 the evil one.’”
We are going to break this passage down to see the things prayer does for our lives.
- Opens Our Heart to Worship God
- Helps Us Embrace His Will as Our Own
- Cultivates a Grateful Heart
- Keeps Fellowship with God and Others Open
- Gain Strength in Trials and Temptations
- Conclusion
Opens Our Heart to Worship God
Matthew 6:9 NIV “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,“
Prayer is about worshipping God. Beginning with praise is the best way to open our prayers.
The word “hallow” means to render sacred, to consecrate. This word is from the Saxon, and properly means “to make holy.” The name of God is “hallowed”, i.e., is reverenced as holy. Easton’s Bible Dictionary
As we worship God in prayer, we are acknowledging He is above everything and everyone. He is set apart, far above the norm.
Luke 4:8 NIV “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
When we place God first in our lives, this keeps our focus on Him and honors Him as God. Our hearts are ready to love, obey and serve.
Years ago, one of my pastors preached a sermon on worshipping God. His question, “Are you worshipping Him as He deserves?”
It brought my attention to my own worship which I had not thought enough about. My focus changed and I began the journey of learning more how to worship God.
Beginning our prayers with praise, opens our hearts to worship and putting God first in our lives.
Helps Us Embrace His Will as Our Own
Matthew 6:10 NIV “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
In the garden of Gethsemane, just before Jesus was arrested, He was deep in prayer, asking, ““My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’” Even in this passionate plea, God the Father’s will became Jesus’ will.
How hard would that be, to willingly give your perfect life for other’s sin? Yet, He obeyed.
Jesus knew we would need His strength to accept God’s will as our own. The more we talk to God about our decisions, the easier it becomes to follow His will. Prayer helps us embrace God’s will for our lives.
Cultivates a Grateful Heart
Matthew 6:11 NIV “Give us today our daily bread.”
Psalm 100:4 NIV “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!“
We’ve opened our heart to worship, acknowledged God’s will is primary, now we want to thank God for His provision.
Okay, we are thankful for everything He gives us. How does that build a grateful heart?
Well, hopefully you are thinking about the different blessings you have received. Maybe, the extra you needed came through at the last minute. How did that make you feel?
This time in your prayer should be about remembering, maybe even listing what He has given you. The more you think about it, your heart begins to swell in gratitude.
Prayer is realizing the power God uses in your life while gratitude grows. This helps keep us humble when we know we thrive because of God and not ourselves.
Keeps Fellowship with God and Others Open
Matthew 6:12 NIV “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
God expects us to acknowledge our sin to Him.
1 John 1:9 NIV “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
When we confess our sin to God, this shows Him we are sorry for what we did, and this restores our fellowship with Him.
Continuing to harbor sin stops the flow of prayer. Confess any known sin as soon as you can.
The second part of Matthew 6:12, says to forgive our debtors. God expects us to forgive those who have wronged us. This is not always an easy task, but necessary. Having an unforgiving spirit causes bitterness and only hurts you.
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV “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.”
Prayer helps keep our relationships, both with God and others, healthy.
We Gain Strength in Trials and Temptations
Matthew 6:13 NIV “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.”
In prayer, we can go to God and ask for help when we are being tempted. We are encouraged in these verses that we are not the first to combat sin in our life. He is faithful and will give you a way out.
God will not leave us alone to deal with Satan. He is ready to help us overcome him.
Our strength for trials and temptations come from communication with God in prayer. As we rely on Him, we are able to stand strong and fight whatever comes into our life. God gives us His peace.
Conclusion
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV “‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
Part of Jesus’ role here on earth was to show us how to live. He is our teacher and gives us information we can never find ourselves.
Jesus through prayer gives us wisdom to know how to:
- Worship God
- Embrace His will
- Become more grateful
- Build good relationships
- Gain strength in trails and temptation
This only scratches the surface of what communicating with God regularly can do. If you don’t have a set time of prayer, create a space this week to begin praying on a regular basis. You will be blessed.
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