Prayer is a powerful tool given to us by God as part of a system of connection for establishing or enriching our relationship and fellowship with the God. Prayer further serves as a means of personal expression, petitioning, and two-way communication with our Creator. It is also a fact that prayer can be an effective means for relief from internalised stress. Jesus teaches us how to approach God in a specific manner:
Matthew 6:9-13:
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
(See also Luke 11:2-4)
If we consider that halfway through the instruction Jesus says, “give us today….” we see a clear indication that this format of (or way to approach) prayer is to be done on a daily basis. It is also obvious that He is suggesting that it is done early in the day because it would make little sense to request “today’s” provisions late in the day or at night when the day is finished. I say this because many of were taught this model prayer as part of a liturgy or our bedtime prayer routine.
When you Pray…
From Jesus’ teaching on how to pray in what is commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer” we can learn that a lifestyle of prayer comes out of a lifestyle of worship. We can also discover that we can ‘pray to the point’ just like Jesus did – and we know that all of His prayers were heard and answered by God (see John 11:41-42). We too can have most if not all of our prayers answered too if we follow Jesus’ instructions. There should be no strain or struggle to pray but joy and confidence.
If we compare Matthew’s text with that of Luke’s (11:2-4) we see that the disciples requested that Jesus teach them to pray “as” John taught his disciples to pray. Jesus does not do quite as they ask but repeats the same instruction on prayer that He taught them at the beginning of His ministry approximately two years earlier. You will note that in the fourth stage of the prayer (verse 11 in Matthew’s account) Jesus says, “Give us this day…” thus indicating that this is a daily prayer carried out before the day’s activities really begin.
DILIGENCE means speed, haste (as manifested in earnestness), zeal; work, labour; effort, occupation; to make haste, to do the utmost; quick, skilful; do something early. The picture is one of engaging in something early in the morning because people who are diligent about something often deny themselves of relevant personal privileges – in this instance, extra sleep, which is a sacrifice for most people.
‘FATHER IN HEAVEN’ – A DIVINE RELATIONSHIP
We are God’s children by virtue of Jesus’ sacrificial death on our behalf. This sacrifice redeemed us from bondage to sin and its penalty by Jesus Christ’s blood and death (1 Corinthians 6:20 & 7:23).
We therefore open our prayer by giving thanks to God for this divine relationship because of the power of:
- The shed blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:6-28)
- The Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14)
- The Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:18)
- The Word of God (1 John 2:3-5)
- The promise of life abundantly(John 10:10)
And more….
HALLOW: (Gr) Hagiazo; to make holy, boast, shine, grand, praiseworthy, set apart for religious purpose or use.
When declaring that the Lord’s Name to be hallowed there is a twofold application we should consider. The first is to praise and worship God’s Name because of God’s worthiness as well as an ‘act of faith’ in anticipation of answer to our prayer. The second is to declare and make one’s own life to be “a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:7; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; 2 Peter 1:2-4). Praying regularly helps us keep our thoughts, words, actions, work, study, Christian service, daily lives, etc., a conscious offering of praise to God. This creates such an awareness of our inner self that it makes faith and holiness even more attainable than just ‘head knowledge’ or a fleeting illusion. It empowers us for taking control of ourselves and managing our desires, emotions, habits and lives.
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done”- SUBMISSION
Note – A kingdom is not a kingdom unless a monarch rules it.
Whilst we know that God created heaven and earth and all that exists and whilst we also know that God is the Supreme Being of the universe, it is not correct to assume that everything is subject to His rule (Hebrews 2:8). To clarify this we need to understand that to be subject to a ruler or to be a ruler’s subject means to be under the rule of that ruler or government. However, to be submitted to that ruler means to be voluntarily yielded to that ruler’s will or authority.
If we look at life and the world, world affairs, the family, society, politics, political and spiritual leaders, essential services, medicine, caring professions and agencies, education, the Church and current affairs (the list goes on), we would immediately see areas where God’s rule is required. As we list these categories, people and subjects and begin to pray over them, it becomes easy to spend the entirety of a prayer time just on this part of the prayer.
A secondary aspect of this prayer is with regard to ourselves and the things we are responsible for or have control over. In this aspect we can make declarations and decrees. A useful way of approaching this to make declarations along these lines:
“Lord, I declare that today, You will be glorified – not only through my life but by my life and because of my life. You will be glorified by my words and the things I do. You will be glorified by how I act and react. You will be glorified wherever I go. Where You are glorified, Your kingdom come and Your reign be established there. As You are acknowledged by me, through me and because of me, Your kingdom come and Your will be done”.
(See Matthew 5:13-16)
We can pray in this way over and for each of our family members, friends, loved-ones, colleagues and workmates, neighbours, brothers and sisters (church and siblings), those the Lord “lays on our hearts”, leaders, politicians, royalty, our so-called enemies and on and on and on (1 Timothy 2:1).
Combined with the above is also the place of ‘spiritual warfare’. According to Scripture, the devil and his minions (negative forces) are at work to destroy, oppose and rebel against all that is God’s kingdom or that represents God’s kingdom. Note: the devil does not have a kingdom because the devil was never made a lord over one. The devil is a usurper of authority and an imitator of God. Jesus gave the Church authority over all the ability and leadership of the devil (Matthew 16:16-19; Luke 10:17-20).
Praying Jesus’ way is a lot easier than we may have thought. If it feels good and is effective we will enjoy it and therefore engage in prayer with a more positive approach and with greater energy.
Further Readings:
1 John 3:8
1 John 4:4
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Ephesians 1:15-23