How to Pray

Last week, we looked at the different kinds of things that we should pray for. We mentioned different groups like friends and family, the world, your community, your church, yourself, and other areas. We also looked briefly at the Lord’s Prayer as an example of what we should be praying about. However, I want to go back to the Lord’s Prayer this week as not only an example of what we should pray for, but how we should pray.

Today, we’re going to answer the constant question that believers tend to ask: how should we pray? What should we say? How do we even start a prayer?

A Model Prayer

Luckily for us, the people that followed Jesus asked a question that we would’ve all asked: how should we pray? Turn to Luke 11:1-4

Luke 11:1–4 CSB

1 He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say, Father, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone in debt to us. And do not bring us into temptation.”

To me, asking Jesus how to pray is like asking a five-star chef how to cook. There are just certain people in this world that know what they’re doing, and their advice is better than anyone else that you could ask. In response to their question, Jesus gave them a blueprint on how to pray. Every line of the Lord’s Prayer explains exactly what we need to be praying for.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name

As you can see here, the first focus of our prayers should be to worship God. When we approach His throne, we need to understand the kind of Being that is in our midst. Jesus uses two different attributes to refer to God: first, He calls God “Father”, and second, He calls God hallowed or holy.

Jesus calling God “Father” is understandable. The Father and the Son are closer than any comparison on earth. While they’re both fully God, their dynamic is such that the Second Person of the Trinity refers to the First Person as “Father” because of their closeness.

And yet, when Jesus tells sinful humans to pray to God, He also tells us that we can call Him Father. The title that is normally only reserved for a child to call a parent is given to believers to show us that when we place our faith in Christ, we are made a part of God’s family. We no longer need to feel like we’re locked out of the house of God. We can call God Father because He cares for us like a Father does.

The second attribute is that God is holy. Some Christians get so caught up in their closeness to the Father that they neglect to consider that God isn’t just a close Father, but also a holy being deserving of all respect. This is where the worship comes into play. When we approach God in prayer, we shouldn’t pray in a disrespectful manner. Even a prince would be disciplined if they jumped all over the throne of the king or embarrassed the queen. God is not equal to or below us.

By opening our prayers in worship and adoration, we set our mindset on the right path. If you understand the holiness and closeness of the One you’re approaching, then you’ll be better off in your prayers. Speak freely to God, but don’t speak disrespectfully.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven

The next focus of our prayers should be to align ourselves with God’s will. Pledging our allegiance to God and submitting to His will can go hand-in-hand. The point is that through our prayers, our focus is not on what we can convince God to do, but how we should be following God’s plan. As we’ll see next, we are called to make requests to God, but it shouldn’t be in opposition to His will.

Because of this, Jesus is calling us to seek the Kingdom of God before our own will. Is your focus on what He’s doing in your life? If your heart in such a place that you obediently follow God’s will instead of trying to get your own way? These are what your prayers should be about. After recognizing the One we pray to, then we need to see what He wants from us.

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

Keep It Simple

Matthew 6:5–8 CSB

5 “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

Be Persistent

Luke 11:5–12 CSB

5 He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ 7 Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 “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 to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

God has given us everything we need in Jesus.