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Prayer

Prayer

Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 6:5-13

Are you so bound by anxiety that you cannot even pray about what you’re going through? Do not be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6). Prayer is a conversation with God. Our communication with God, whatever we say, is vitally important to God. The enemy does not want us to know this or feel that we can pray. He does not want us to know how to pray.

Many of us can recite the Lord’s Prayer, but what does it really mean? God is attentive to everything we say to Him (1 Peter 3:12).

Jesus taught us to pray like this:

  1. Our – we are not alone.
  2. Father – God is our good, good Father. Father speaks of relationship. It speaks of protection.
  3. In heaven – speaks of our home in the presence of God.
  4. Hallowed be your name – acknowledges who and what God is. A name is important. We respond to our name. There is ownership and power in a name.
  5. Your kingdom come – there needs to be an acknowledgement of His kingdom. His kingdom is perfect.
  6. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven – we need His will to be done on earth. His will is perfect. He knows best.

“Our Father”, “your kingdom” and ” your will” is not about us. It is all about God. After acknowledging these things then we can present our needs before Him. Then we can say:

  1. Give us this day our daily bread – is also about our spitual food. We need to feed on His word.
  2. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors – there is a clause in this. Forgiveness involves forgiving others. Forgiveness of us is conditional on our forgiveness of others (Matthew 6:14). How many times should we forgive? Jesus said keep on forgiving others (Matthew 18:22).
  3. Lead us not into temptation – we will not be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). When we face trails we are being developed as a person (James 1:2-4).
  4. Deliver us from evil – Our struggle is not against each other. Our struggle is against evil. It is a spiritual battle that we are in (Ephesians 6:10-20). We need to put on the armour of God. The enemy is already defeated, he just doesn’t know it yet!

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” – Philippians 4:8