How to Pray

Matthew 6:5–15 ESV

5 “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.

We are expected to regularly pray privately.

Matthew 6:5–8 ESV

5 “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.

The Model Prayer is for our personal time with the Lord.

Matthew 6:9–15 ESV

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.

1. The Model Prayer Praise God

“Hollowed be your name” (9)

Hollowed: Means sanctify, make holy

Communicates worship

Communicates praising God

Communicates his holiness

2. The Model Prayer, Centers our desires on God's will.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”(10)

Removes our own desires from our prayer and instead focuses our attention on what God desires.

It turns our attention to doing God’s work and seeking God’s will for the world.

It allows for us to become selfless.

3. Ask for our needs to be met.

“Give us this day our daily bread” (11)

After first praising and seeking God’s face and his will, we then request for our needs to be met.

We are not to ask for more than we need, “our daily bread.”

We are to ask God to meet needs not necessarily our wants.

Think of this like our need for new clothes, instead of the new PS5, or food, instead of doing your nails.

These aren’t bad things, they simply aren’t “needs” they are the nice-to-have things.

It pulls our attention to God, who provides for all our needs and allows for us to also experience things like getting nails done, driving a car, hanging out with friends, gaming, etc.

4. Repent of sins committed.

“Forgive us our debts” (12a)

Did you know that every time we go to the Lord in prayer, we are to seek the Lord for forgiveness?

We should name the sins we have committed.

We should ask the Lord to reveal sins we didn’t know we committed.

We commit to turning from the sins we committed.

5. Forgive those who wronged you.

“As we also have forgiven our debtors.” (12b, and 14-15)

We are to expect God to forgive our sins like we forgive others.

Did you know that if we are holding a grudge against someone this verse tells us the Lord also is not forgiving our sin?

Look at 14 and 15:

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.

When we forgive, we are blessed.

6. Plead for victory over temptation.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Request for victory over the temptations you are going to face.

Temptation will come but pray for victory!

Rest knowing that you will be delivered!