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When Jesus ceased praying, His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1). The account given by Matthew, commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer”, is the more familiar response of Jesus (Matthew 6:9-11).

This prayer is designed to express the manner in which we are to pray, to express the substance of prayer.

The first principle is given in verses 9-10: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Notice the underlined words give glory and praise to God: His name is different from all names; His kingdom is for those who follow Him; His will is to be done in the lives of His followers.

The second principle is in the last verses: “Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

The underlined words request our petitions to our Father. They express our needs: physical (bread or food), mental (God’s forgiveness of us as we forgive others), and spiritual (deliverance from the evil one). “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

The apostle Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, added another key point. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

In prayer, we have the great privilege of communicating with the God of the universe as we praise our Father, we make our requests, we thank Him for what He has done, is doing and will do for us.

How often do you talk to your heavenly Father?

--Ralph Burris