Prayer: Jesus on Prayer

Jesus warns about praying with wrong motives. 

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners ^bso that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

Jesus instructs to pray in secret.

6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Jesus instructs to avoid meaningless repetition. 7  

“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.  8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Jesus instructs us how to pray.

9 “Pray, then, in this way: 
‘Our Father who is 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 do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from ^bevil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’

Prayer begins with knowing God. 

‘Our Father who is in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.  John 15:8

Prayer desires the will of God.

10 ‘Your kingdom come.

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Prayer trusts God for life’s basic necessities.

11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.

Prayer reconciles through forgiveness.

12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Prayer enlists spiritual protection.

13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from ^bevil.

Prayer enlightens to the glory of God.

[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’

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