22010.160 Take Time to Pray!

“So pray this way: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored, may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.” —Matthew 6:9–15

Here Jesus presents us with a model prayer. This is a prayer for His disciples to follow. It is an example containing elements important for our petitions. Christ begins His pattern of prayer with worship. Worship, reverence, and thanksgiving to our Holy Father are to be the foundation of all of our prayers. We praise God in all His perfections. We do not praise Him because He needs it, we praise Him because He deserves it! Beginning our prayers with praise helps us keep the correct perspective of who He is and who we are.

The psalmist tells us:

“Worship the LORD with joy! Enter his presence with joyful singing! Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give him thanks! Praise his name!” —Psalm 100:2–4

Certainly, there is nothing more pleasing and pleasant both to us and to God than for each one of us to call Him “Abba Father.” He thankfully comforts us in our weakness and denies us nothing that is ultimately for our good and His glory. He is on His throne in heaven and from there maintains a full and clear view of our burdens and needs as well as our weaknesses. God knows us through and through and is fully aware of the attitudes and thoughts. He is not only willing; He is also able to help us do great things! He gladly comes to the aid of those seeking to do right.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you—yes, I help you—yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!” —Isaiah 41:10

The words of the Lord’s Prayer tell us to seek God’s will in order that He may be glorified and we may be satisfied. The Lord Jesus came to do His Father’s will, setting the example for His disciples to follow. We are to line up our wants with the will of the Father. All requests are to be subordinate to and in pursuit of His righteousness and glory. We are to pray that He may rule in our hearts as a demonstration of trust in Him that He has our best interest at heart. We do well to pray for the knowledge of His will and the ability to obey it, both are necessary for the child of the King. There is no better place on earth to be than in the center of God’s will.

Our petitions are to be not only for that which is wholesome but also for that which is daily. We are to speak in a direct and specific manner for the things we both need and desire, always according to His will, and with an expectation to draw from Him upon the unlimited resources of heaven. We need not worry about tomorrow! Day by day we can count on His mercies and grace.

Become More

“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” —Martin Luther

“Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude—an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.” —A. W. Pink

Further Reflections

“Be eager for more frequent gatherings for thanksgiving to God and for His glory.” —Ignatius of Antioch

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You assist those who delight do right, who remember your commandments.” —Isaiah 64:4–5

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