Find a quiet place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God and you will begin to sense His grace…with a God like this loving you, you can pray simply.
Jesus, Mathew 6:6 The Message
“This then is how you should pray. Our Father in Heaven, holy is your name. May your kingdom come, your will be done on earth s it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one."
Jesus, Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
"Effective prayer is the fruit of a relationship with God, not a technique for acquiring blessings.” D. A. Carson
Jesus’ teaching and His life example was to act in the will of God knowing the heart of God. Jesus was intentional in showing and acting how God acts. Jesus was intentional in spending time in prayer one on one with God. His focus was on being present with God. So, with the introduction on how to pray, He starts first with how not to pray. Don’t grandstand your prayers. Don’t do it for show. The only focus should be on being in the presence of God. Be intentional on building a relationship with God.
The Jewish hypocrites in theory had so much respect for God (Yahweh) that they would not even say His name, out of respect of course. But they would pray (not saying His name out of respect) in public to “be seen” not from the heart. Jesus was not impressed and did not want others following their example.
“Don’t babble on in public to be heard of others.” Instead pray to God. Focus on God not people. BE WITH GOD.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
The Greek word for Pray – (4336) proseuchomai. “The prefix pros conveys the sense of being immediately before God and hence would also include the ideas of adoration, devotion, and worship.” If you are busy making sure others are impressed, you have little time or attention to give to God. Jesus knew that God looks at the heart and thus gave an example of how to pray from the heart.
There are no specific guidelines in the Old Testament of how to pray, how often or where to pray.
There are many prayers recorded in the Old Testament, especially in Psalms, but no specific instructions. When Moses spent time with God (prayer), he came down the mountain glowing. He was reflecting God’s glory. The Israelites asked him to wear a veil to hide it. Moses was not spending time with God to be “seen of men.” He spent time with God for the joy of being with God. He had a personal relationship with God and he was able to empty himself and allow God to fill him. Perhaps that is why he reflected God’s glory. He was so filled with God that he could not contain it. Are we filled with God’s glory after spending time in prayer?
That is what the Lord’s Prayer is about. It is about being with God and being filled with God. It is not so much a strict do this, but maybe more of an example of where to start. It all start with recognizing God as Holy and showing respect and awe. But Jesus wanted us to take it a step further. Jesus wanted us to have a personal relationship with God not just a head knowledge. This was a significant change for some of the Jews.
Jesus taught us to call God Father. This was a term of respect with love and closeness. God was no longer the God behind the veil that could not be approached by the ordinary man. He was now family. He was/is a loving father who is holy and to be respected. This is a more personable, relatable God. But Jesus includes Holy to make sure we know that God is still pure and good and to be respected.
Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you for your righteous acts have been revealed.
Revelation 15:4
Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
Exodus 15:11
Next, He focuses on God’s will being done. Since God is so holy and all-knowing, we really need for His will to be done and not ours. God will not grant any prayer that is outside of His will. Jesus here teaches how important it is for us to acknowledge and desire God’s will. And later in scripture we are reminded that “we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us.” (Romans 8:26-27)
And then finally after we have focused on God, we can ask for our needs. Notice these are needs not wants. Daily food, forgiveness of sin or offense and help through testing are all daily needs. We must recognize that everything we need comes from God. We must trust Him for our daily needs. We often trust Kroger or Publix for our daily bread without thinking that it is God who sends the rain and causes the food to grow. In asking God to provide our needs, we are acknowledging that we can’t meet our own needs, but we know and trust that He can.
“Far too many believers try to live on yesterday’s bread. It is stale and moldy. What you need is fresh bread day by day. We need a fresh work of the Lord in our hearts and lives every day we live. We are to walk with Him on a day by day basis, trusting Him for all the needs of life. We need His righteousness for our sinfulness. We need His supply for our weakness. We need His patience for our haste. We need the Bread of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ, to nourish us day by day.” Alan Carr, “Lord, Teach Us to Pray”
Prayer is for us. It helps keep our focus on God and who He is. Paul tells us to pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) We must be intentional about being in a relationship with God through Bible study and spending time in prayer. Our desire should be to learn more about God so that we are more focused on Him. Too much of the world’s focus is on self. Self will always disappoint. God will not.