The Prayer the Lord Taught

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

Could be relabelled “The Prayer the Lord Taught” being sinless 

he didn’t need to pray this one to himself.

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your Kingdom come, 

your will be done, 

on earth as in heaven

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those who sin against us. 

Lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil. 

For the kingdom, 

the power and the glory are yours. 

Now and forever - Amen

Two things jump out about Jesus’ prayers. The first his public prayers were brief and secondly in private he pulled out the long ones, even the‘all-nighters’ (Luke 6:12).

The prayer Jesus taught us to pray is as his public prayers were, simple, complete and straight to the point. God only needs us to open our minds/mouths in

prayer to what is on our hearts, not compile poetic verse.

He knows our hearts and minds, just pray it.

Prayer really is that simple...

Why Our Prayers Are Sometimes Not Answered...

James 4:3

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures"

It is important when we pray that we take the time to understand our motive for the prayer.

1. Am I expressing Gods love in this situation

2. What is my motivation to do so - anything in it for me?

Our motives as Christians is in performance of Christ like acts (love) that glorify God. Our prayers should  also be a reflection of our motive, especially if we want them answered!!

How Prayer's Can Work...

Many of us lose confidence in prayer because we do not recognise the answer
　
We ask for strength and God gives us difficulties which make us strong

We pray for wisdom and God gives us problems, the solution of which develops wisdom

We plead for prosperity and God gives us a brain and brawn to work

We plead for courage and God gives us danger to overcome

We ask for favours and God gives us opportunities