Question, Why do people think or make one believe that there has to be a ritual to the way you must pray in order for you to get your prayer heard and answered by God?
Please don’t misunderstand, there is a level of respect that must be shown entering His presence. However, He knows we all have to start somewhere, whether in knowledge or ignorance. Remember it’s your heart and sincerity that means the most to God…(Jeremiah 17:10)
But I, the Lord, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
according to what their actions deserve.”
Trust me, I get it, when I hear people say, “they don’t know how to pray, “or”, they feel like their prayers aren’t being heard because they don’t know how to do it. I have been there, and felt that!
If I can be honest, though? If you’re one of those that only approach God in prayer when you need something, or because you’ve tried everything else first, and it failed, and only use prayer as a last-ditch effort……every time……then yes, Houston We Have A Problem!
Okay, in your defense, you may not be saved, and if you’re not, you need to change that https://www.kcm.org/real-help/salvation/pray/prayer-salvation-and-baptism-holy-spirit?language_content_entity=en-US. and make that confession, because it’s impossible to put God first without being saved.
So, if you’re not Saved and don’t understand the whole concept of prayer, and no one’s ever told you, that you must be Born Again to develop a relationship, then no wonder you are unsure of how to enter His presence or position yourself before Him to learn.
Or, perhaps you grew up in a household where prayer and God the Father wasn’t spoken about, and just wasn’t a priority, then perhaps I can say, I get it.(John 14:6)Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
But truth be told, prayer to the Father, is just like you having a respectful and open conversation with your mother or father here on earth.
There are so many misconceptions on the right and wrong way to pray, that it’s just getting absurd.
You should never look at Prayer as something you have to do, but something you get to do. Amen!
The only instruction for prayer you should be following should come straight from the Word of God…(Matthew 6:6-13)
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
The only thing you must remember about the prayer Jesus prayed, is that it was only an outline… a pattern prayer.
He breaks it all the way down from start to finish.
Letting us know our prayers should begin with (“Our Father,”) showing Honor and Respect, Reverence, and Awe.
(“Who art in heaven,”)
explaining it this way, is a way to help you understand the greatness of the Father’s dwelling, who is in heaven. Described as a parallel realm where everything operates according to God’s Will. It’s a place of peace, love, community, and worship, where God is surrounded by a heavenly court and other heavenly beings… John explains this in the Book of (Revelation 4 & 21).
(“Hallowed be Thy name.”)
In the Greek it means “to be treated as holy, reverence. Jesus wants us to know not only whose presence we’re entering, but how He’s to be viewed as we enter. When we pray, we are to pray with the privilege of knowing our place of intimacy to call Him “ABBA.”
We are never to think that He is a Homie, and we are to never think it’s okay to assume we are His equal.
He is always and only to be viewed as our Father – who is holy, exalted, and highly esteemed. Jesus teaches us to call Him Father, as well as teaches us to recognize His exalted position on high. And, that we are to always revere him.(Hebrews 12:28)Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
“Father, hallowed be your name,” means, “Father, Your name is holy. So, with that being said, He is to be treated with the respect and honor that it (His name) demands.”
“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
This right here is where everything should shift and slow us down. Only to take the focus off of self and put it back on Him. No matter the situation. This here teaches us to think – pray- and -act, with God’s Kingdom first and foremost on our minds and not our issues.
“Your kingdom come,” When we pray, “Your Kingdom come,” we are asking Him to show us how to live in this world as we would in His Kingdom. Our prayers should not be selfish, but definitely agreeing with God, and guided by His Will.
“Your will be done,” Simply says, “God have Your way,”
“On earth as it is in Heaven,” showing us to pray for God’s way of doing things in heaven to be replicated on earth. His Will, His Order, His concepts.(2 Timothy 3:10)
But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
Keep in mind right here that He is not speaking of actual food, but of the Word. We are to feed off of, and get fed by, His Word. The Word of God is often referred to as food in the Bible. In the book of Ezekiel he was asked by God to take the scroll and eat it, then speak the word of God (Ezekiel. 2:8-3:4)
As Believers, we need to eat the Word of God, chew on it, digest it, and absorb it, into every part of our being. And then speak it out of our mouths. Amen! (2 Corinthians 3:3)Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
“Forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.”
Debt in the Bible = sin, Debtors = those who have done us wrong. So plain and simple, we can reference that to this (Matthew 6:14-15)
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Don’t get thrown off, I know I’m moving ahead of myself, but get this…
Forgiveness to God is everything! Without forgiveness being in your heart, and not only on your lips, how can you expect God to use you, or hear, and answer your prayers?
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever Amen.”
We can agree that we for sure know that God will never lead us into temptation….this part of the prayer lets us know that we will be tempted because of where we are, but as followers of Christ we do not have to succumb to those temptations because of whom we look to, call on, and reverence.
This part of the Lord’s Prayer reminds us to call upon the Father for strength when we are tempted.
“And lead us not into temptation,” helps to teach us how important it is for us to stop flirting with sin, but to actively flee and resist it.(James 1:13-14)And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
“Deliver us from the evil one,”
This is just for us to recognize the Spiritual warfare against sin. Satan and his army are real, y’all, and the only way to fight him and keep him off your back is with the help of God and His Kingdom.
Satan wants to see us turn away, disappoint, and shame our Father and His name, but knowing that He is here with us and equipping us with how to fight this Foe is everything (Ephesians 6:10-18)A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (James 4:7) So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
“For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”As Jesus shows us how to close out our prayer, always in praise. Amen!
For it was all created by Him, all created for Him, and all belongs to Him! Hallelujah!!(Romans 11:36)For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
Be Blessed….
Host Of Angels 