How to Pray: Part 1

May 25

(Luke 11:1-4 NIV) ““One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." {2} He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. {3} Give us each day our daily bread. {4} Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.””

(Matthew 6:5-13 NIV) ““And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. {6} But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. {7} And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. {8} Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. {9} "This, then, is how you should pray: "'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 today our daily bread. {12} Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. {13} And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.””

Jesus taught by example, praying to His Father on a daily basis. The disciples asked Him to teach them to pray and Jesus taught them what we call “The Lord’s Prayer”. They were to pray aloud -- to “say” their prayers. They were to pray intimately, as though addressing their Daddy. They were to praise God with reverence and remember His holiness. They were to pray for God’s Kingdom to come, in the world and in their lives. Christ was to reign over all mankind, starting with them. They were to pray for their basic needs, represented by “daily bread”. They were to give up self-reliance and trust God for everyday stuff. They were to ask for forgiveness of sin, and the grace to forgive sin. They were to pray for the strength to resist the temptation to sin. These were the important basic ingredients of daily prayer that Jesus taught. How are you doing in each of these areas? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day