How do we Pray

Prayer

Dialogue between God and people, especially His covenant partners

Randy Hatchett, “Prayer,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1320.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Prayer

The addressing and petitioning of God

Lexham Theological Wordbook Prayer

Prayer is intentional communication with God and can be spoken or written. It is often petitionary in nature, though it may take many other forms, as well. Both the OT and the NT assume that God hears and responds to the prayers of his people.

Prayer:

Prayer, properly speaking, is a petition which we make to God for the things which pertain to our salvation; but it is also taken in another, broader sense to mean any raising of the heart to God’

F. L. Cross and Elizabeth A. Livingstone, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 1324.

Lord’s Prayer - Jesus teaches

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 11

11 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.”,

Father: we align ourselves with God, based on covenant, as we identify him as our Father

Hallowed: We place honor on God’s name and treat it with reverence

God’s name includes his Holy reputation and all that has been said about him

Your Kingdom come

Places emphasis on God’s rule and reign continuing to advance in the hearts of people;

also refers to the kingdom that became present upon Jesus entry into this world

Daily Bread:

Includes all of the physical needs that God’s people will need on a day by day basis

Forgive us our sins

speaks towards our continual need to confess and be forgiven of our sins so that we maintain our relationship with God

For we ourselves forgive others in debt to us

Just as God forgives us, we too must forgive others

Lead us not into temptation

The Parable following the instructions to pray

Lk.11.5-15

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 11

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? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Do not pray like hypocrites

Matt.6.5-14

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

10  Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

11  Give us this day our daily bread,

12  and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13  And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 6:5–15.

5 Parts to Prayer:

Adoration

Supplication

Thanksgiving

Intercession

Confession