(by pastor Norman)
In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus lays out a template on which our prayers for ourselves, our families, others and all the world around us can be based (1 Tim 2:1-4). The prayer starts (v9) with worshiping God our Father as holy, sacred, set apart from all others and worthy of all our worship and praise. The prayer continues asking that His Kingdom and will be established on earth just as in heaven (v10). We can ask for needs to be met (v11) and for forgiveness of our sins. However, we must forgive to receive God’s forgiveness (v12; v14-15). We can ask God to protect us from temptation and all the attacks of the devil (v13). The prayer ends with praise and worship of God (v13). In Philippians 4:6-7, the apostle Paul wrote that if we draw near to God in humility, with worship and thanksgiving as we pray, we will experience His peace. It’s good to have a daily time for prayer in private (Mark 1:35; Matt 6:6) but we should also be open to pray at any time (1 Thess 5:16-18). God doesn’t need long prayers (Matt 6:7), He knows our needs but wants us to pray (Matt 6:8-9). We pray to God the Father in Jesus name (John 14:13). If we allow, God will direct our prayers by the Holy Spirit (Eph 6:18a). We must pray in faith (Mark 11:24) and we grow our faith by spending time in God’s Word (Rom 10:17). “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14). Amen!