“Teach Us To Pray” Part 2
Like most things in life, there’s a right way and a wrong way. I know that many times when it comes to spiritual things and our individual walks with God, many of us like to make it very subjective and personalized. The reality is that we can be intimate and personal with the Lord and ALSO follow a Biblical pattern and model that demonstrated in scripture. God never intended for us to just figure things out through trial and error. On the contrary, He wants us to discover the path He’s designated for us in His Word.
Before Jesus gave the specifics of the Lord’s Prayer, He gave His disciples some DONT’S about prayer. In Matthew 6:5 we read,
“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 so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” (emphasis added) —Matthew 6:5 NASB
Clearly Jesus is identifying a wrong way of praying because it based on the wrong motive. We are never to pray for the applause of people, but for the glory of the Lord. According to Jesus, if someone prays to be seen and applauded, then when they are seen, and when they are applauded, that’s all the reward they will receive. It would equate to a performance rather than an intimate, divine dialogue with God.
Click HERE to watch the YouTube teaching of “Teach Us To Pray” Part 2
Talk To Your Father
The first two verses of the Lord’s Prayer state:
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.”
First we are told to address “Our Father”. This recognizes that we are engaging the Lord through the relationship of sonship (sons and daughters). As a father, I know first hand the different level of responsiveness I have when it’s my child that needs me. You must understand that the Lord is your Heavenly Father. He loves you! He desires to spend time with you, to talk to you, listen to you and fellowship with you.
Next we declare, “Hallowed be Your name.” This means that God’s name is holy. It’s set apart from another name in all of creation and we recognize that great honor it is to utter His name and to call Him Father. This is all relational.
The Prayer Umbrella
In verse 10 we see what I like to call THE UMBRELLA over all prayers we make before the Lord:
“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
This again demonstrates why listening in prayer is so important. There are simply things that we may desire that are not in alignment with His Kingdom and His will. Therefore we should start out with a deliberate alignment of our wills to His will. The reality is that God always answers our prayers. The answers range from:
Yes
No
Not yet
We should be thankful no matter what God’s answer is because His will and ways are always better than ours. Our prayer lives should first and foremost about God’s will NOT our desires. And the great news is that His will is ALWAYS BETTER! What God wants for you is far better than what you want for yourself. It takes humility and maturity to let go of the lesser things we’re holding on to and embrace the greater things God has for us.
So encouraged today in your prayer life. Approach the throne of your Heavenly Father with confidence. Trust in the ways and purpose of His Kingdom. Know that His will is what’s best for you in every area of your life!
Click HERE to watch the YouTube teaching of “Teach Us To Pray” Part 2