How to pray?  Example-The Lord’s Prayer  (©  Cyndy – Rudecatz: April 17, 2010)

 

God wants you to be yourself and be honest not fake!

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full.   Matthew 6:5 (NIV)

Don't try to look good in front of others, or look good for God with your prayers! Big words might make you sound good to others but it isn’t real, so be yourself, most of the time we pray what we think God wants us to say, instead of praying what's really on our hearts.

God made you the way you are, so he wants you to be real when you talk to him. He already knows the real you; he knows all the great things about you and he knows all the bad things you've done - AND HE STILL LOVES YOU!

Be yourself and relax!

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honoured by every nation. I will be honoured throughout the world." Psalm 46:10 (NLT)

"Go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you." Matthew 6:6(Today’s English Version)

Take a deep breath, relax, settle down, and let go of any tension. Then, you’re ready to talk God. Just say what you would normally say when talking to someone be Yourself! You don't have to use fancy words.  You can't impress God with fancy words, and you shouldn't be trying to impress other people either, talk with him in a real way right from your heart.

 

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 others. Truly I tell you, 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. Matthew 6:5-8 (TNIV)

 

The Disciples asked Jesus for an example of How to pray! The Lord’s Prayer was His answer it is an example of how we should pray and what to include in it.

Matthew 6  ¹ Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
² So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
 ³ Give us day by day our daily bread. ⁴ And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation,  But deliver us from the evil one.”

⁵ And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶ for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? ⁸ I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. ⁹ “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹ If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Luke 11 ⁵ “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. ⁷ And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
⁸ “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. ⁹ In this manner, therefore, 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 this day our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. ¹³ And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
¹⁴ “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

  

 Now we break down this prayer ; which is the example Jesus gives us, so we can understand what is included in it, first notice that the whole prayer uses US, WE, OUR not ME, I, MINE.

This gives me the idea that God wanted us to pray together, family pray together, brothers and sisters pray together , because together we are strong.

When Jesus gave us an outline for prayer, he spoke about praying together. There is power in group prayer. 

¹⁹"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. ²⁰For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:19-20 (NIV)

Remember this prayer just tells us how to pray and what to include the details and the words of the prayer should be our own, we are not suppose to pray the Lord’s prayer as a prayer in itself.

So the first Line starts: In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

You start talking to God  by praising Him, and worship Him. What is praise? Praise is thanking God for who and what He is. It means to value Him, to esteem Him. It means bragging on him: "God, You are good! There's no one as good as you!" We acknowledge who God is and give Him praise! He is Holy and our Father(Dad) in Heaven.  Some of the things God is called in the bible are these, He is our Shepherd, Our Provider, Our Healer, Our Peace, He is present with us, as well as Being our Father. But you call Him what  Your word for Him is, those are just some of the things the Bible calls Him. If you’re comfortable with yo’ God  as long as it is done in reverence then so be it.

Next line: Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

So here we recognise that Gods is going to come back to earth and that we wants His will done in our lives, As He rules in heaven rule in Us. Pretty straightforward there.

Next Line: Give us this day our daily bread.

Notice it is short but it is important, I hear so many say we shouldn’t pray for ourselves only others well the Lord’s prayer right in this Line tells us we should ask for our daily needs. But equally important it says daily needs not wants… God don’t want to hear I want this and this and this, we ask for shelter clothing, food and the means to provide these if it means a job, or healing so we can provide them for ourselves or our family then ask for those things. If it should mean we need a proper running vehicle to get to work or care for someone that’s what you pray then. We ask for the needs of others this is  a we prayer remember nowhere does it say I, YOU, or Me

 

Next Line: Luke-And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.                                          Matthew-And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. 

Ok here I used both Matthew and Luke’s version and it is very important to notice that we ask for forgiveness before going any further, of ourselves and  to forgive others.

 If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done. Matthew 6:14-15 (Today’s English Version)

Remember it is very important  that we forgive others or we can’t be forgiven so if there is someplace in your life you messed up now you take it to God and hand it over, hurts, unforgiveness, anger,  petty arguments, things people said to you. This is where you give it all to God and leave it there.

Next line:  And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

This is where we let go of the fears or things that hold us back and we Ask God to Keep us safe from the enemy’s temptations and give us the strength to move on in His might and power. This is like telling Jesus hey I’m struggling with this and that and such and I need Your help to make it through. Jesus wants us to  talk to him about the areas where you're most tempted. He wants you to talk to him about the things you most fear. He knows our fears and temptations He has been there!

¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

Next Line: For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Then we come full circle back to recognising and giving God the glory and praise and Worship He so deserves and we Honour His majesty , We have a time of praise to God and end the prayer in agreement Amen – which means in English phrasing So be it or as according to your will Lord.

Notice throughout the whole prayer it is one of positive and worship and praise and giving all to God and giving Him the glory for who He is and What He has done.

I hope this study helps you to understand better how to pray ! and makes it easier for you!