How Should We Pray?
Copyright © 2007 Heaven Ministries

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This then is how you should pray: (Matthew 6:9 NIV) 

Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed Be Your Name (Matthew 6:9 NIV)

God is our loving Father and is not only majestic and holy, but also a personal and loving God. God is in Spirit everywhere and to all people all the time. When we become believers, we are making a personal commitment to honor His holy name in everything that we do. It is not our achievements but the workings of God in us. 

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven. (Matthew 6:10 NIV)

When Jesus says, “Your Kingdom Come” He is referring to His spiritual reign right here and now on earth! God’s Kingdom was made known as far back as the covenant with Abraham. (Matthew 8:11 NIV) And is present in believers hearts and minds today. Jesus Christ is King right now!

“The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the Kingdom of Heaven is within you.” (Luke 17:20,21 NIN) 

When we pray “Your will be done on earth as in heaven” we are putting forward God’s purpose for our lives to be done on earth as well as in heaven. We are praying that God take over and direct us and we’ll follow. We are essentially praying to God that He fulfill His purpose for our lives. We trust in God with all of our being and are ready to do what He thinks is best for us, and not what we think is best for us. As Christians we should behave like God’s children and carry out His will and not our own. 

Give Us Today, Our Daily Bread (Matthew 6:11 NIV)

Where do you get your answers to life’s problems? When you’re hungry who do you turn to? Does God sustain and provide for your spiritual needs or do you go to some other source? Where do you get your daily bread? In this verse, we are asking God to give us His direction for our lives. Gods loving goodness should sustain all believers. 

Forgive Us Our Debts, As We Also Have Forgiven Our Debtor’s 
(Matthew 6:12 NIV)

This is referring to not just monetary debts but sins as well. Jesus speaks of daily forgiveness, which is necessary to reinstate broken relationship with God. The basic theme of the NT is on learning to forgive and forgive others, and is something we need to do on a daily basis. Jesus is our example to follow on how to forgive others. 

And Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From The Evil One.
(Matthew 6:13 NIV)

God certainly will not lead us into temptation, but sometimes he allows us to be tested by temptations. As believers, we should pray daily to be delivered from temptations and from Satan’s destructive ways. All Christians struggle with temptations at times. Sometimes it is so subtle that we don’t even realize that we have sinned. God has promised us that we will never be tempted beyond what we can bear. (1 Corinthians 10:13) We should earnestly pray to God to give us the strength to overcome our sins and choose Gods way instead. 

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 men. I tell you the truth, they have seen their reward in full. 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. (Matthew 6:5,6 NIV) 

God knows our hearts. That means we do not have to "show off" to others that we are praying. God does not like that. God wants us to pray so we get closer to Him, not so we will make ourselves look good to others. If we pray selfishly God will know, and He will not answer us or give us guidance. Praying is TALKING with God. It is getting to know God and when He answers your prayers you will understand Him better and better. 

Some Christians only pray when they need or want something, but that is being selfish. God already knows what we need and want, so we should not always pray for ourselves! We should pray for our spouse and all others we love and care for.  When we pray on a continuous basis it beings us closer to God and gives us more faith. Praying is something that should be made into a daily affair in every Christian home. 

Questions for Couples

How should we pray?

How can prayer help us in our daily lives?

Why do some Christians only pray when they need or want something?

How can prayer make us closer to God?

Pray for your spouse. God is listening!