Tuesday · May 12
Jesus Teaches Us How To Pray
In Jesus’ day, people prayed long prayers with big words. The people in Jesus’ day respected these prayers. But Jesus had nothing good to say about these prayers (read Matthew 6:5–8 ). Jesus said that people who prayed these prayers were showing off and pretending to be holy.
Jesus’ followers saw Him pray (read Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18; Luke 22:41; Luke 24:30; Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46 ). As the followers watched Jesus, they saw that His prayers were so very different from the prayers of the religious leaders. So, the followers came to Jesus and asked, “ ‘Lord, teach us how to pray’ ” ( Luke 11:1, ERV ).
Jesus showed His followers (and us) that we can pray in everyday language. He showed us that our prayers should be honest and come from our hearts.
Read Luke 11:2–4 and Matthew 6:5–15 (ICB). Notice the different parts of the prayer that Jesus taught us:
Our Father in heaven. Honor your personal relationship with the Father who made everyone and everything.
We pray that your name will always be kept holy. When we understand that God is holy, we will respect Him.
We pray that your kingdom will come. We want God to come back. We pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us until Jesus comes again.
We pray that what you want will be done, here on earth as it [what you want] is [done] in heaven. We give our lives to God. We do not pray just for the things we want. We trust that God knows what is best.
Give us the food we need for each day. Ask God for what we need to live (food and water) and for what our hearts need (Jesus and His living Word, the Bible.)
Forgive the sins we have done, just as we have forgiven those who did wrong to us. Confess our sins. Stop sinning. Ask for forgiveness. Remember to forgive the people who hurt us.
Do not cause us to be tested; but save us from the Evil One. Ask God to protect us from Satan ( Psalm 91 ).
The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours forever. Amen. Know that all we are, have, and do belongs to God. He is the only Person we should praise and honor ( 1 Chronicles 29:11 ).
Take time right now to pray to God as Jesus taught us.