How should I pray?
Matthew 6:5-13
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should 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 today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’
New International Version (NIV)
The answer
Pray as a child speaking to your Father in heaven: sincerely, simply, and trustingly, bringing Him your worship, your needs, your confession, and your requests. Jesus Himself taught us how in Matthew 6:5-13, and His pattern is the surest guide.
Step 1: Come sincerely, not for show
- Pray to God, not to an audience: Jesus warns against praying "that they may be seen by men" (Matthew 6:5). The hypocrites already have their reward — human notice. Real prayer seeks God's ear alone.
- Find a quiet place: "Enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret" (Matthew 6:6). Private, undistracted communion with God is the heart of prayer.
- Drop empty repetition: "Don't use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do" (Matthew 6:7). God is not moved by many words; He "knows what things you need before you ask him" (Matthew 6:8). Speak honestly, not mechanically.
Step 2: Put God first
- Hallow His name: Begin, "Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy" (Matthew 6:9). Prayer opens with worship — asking that God be honoured as holy in your life and in the world.
- Seek His kingdom and will: "Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Before your own wants, ask that God's rule and purposes prevail, starting with your own obedience.
Step 3: Bring your daily needs
- Ask for provision: "Give us today our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). Depend on God for ordinary needs, one day at a time. Nothing is too small to bring to Him.
- Ask with thanksgiving: "In everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). Gratitude belongs in every request, and God's peace guards the heart that prays this way (Philippians 4:7).
Step 4: Confess sin and forgive others
- Ask for forgiveness: "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). Come honestly about your sin, like the tax collector who prayed, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13).
- Forgive as you pray: Jesus ties receiving forgiveness to granting it: "When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any" (Mark 11:25). A heart that refuses to forgive cannot ask rightly for mercy.
Step 5: Ask for protection and close in faith
- Seek deliverance: "Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13). Ask God to keep you from testing and to rescue you from Satan's power.
- End with praise and "Amen": "For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen" (Matthew 6:13). "Amen" affirms the prayer as truly meant — it is the church's word of agreement in prayer (1 Chronicles 16:36; Nehemiah 8:6).
Keep going
Prayer is not a formula to recite but a relationship to live. Jesus gave the Lord's Prayer as a pattern — "Pray like this" (Matthew 6:9) — so use its shape (worship, God's will, provision, pardon, protection) with your own words. Come through Christ, by whom we have access to the Father (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:18), and come often: "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" (Isaiah 55:6). God promises to listen: "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you" (Jeremiah 29:12).
Answered from Scripture · reviewed November 11, 2026
Scripture reveals prayer not as a religious performance or magical formula, but as intimate communion between a redeemed child and their Father in heaven. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus stripped away theatrical hypocrisy and mechanical babbling to give His people a clear, enduring pattern for how to approach God. Learning how to pray means aligning our hearts with His kingdom, resting in His care, and seeking Him in secret with sincere repentance and trust.
The Motive
Pray to Your Father, Not to an Audience
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
Jesus directs the disciple away from public spectacle into the secret place where communion with God is unvarnished and genuine.
In Matthew 6:6, Jesus commands His disciples to enter an inner room, close the door, and pray to their Father who is in secret. True prayer begins when the audience of human opinion is shut outside. Jesus exposes the hollow religion of the street corners in Matthew 6:5, warning that those who turn supplication into public theatre have received their reward in full—the fleeting applause of men. By contrast, the Father who sees in secret delights in unvarnished sincerity and rewards His children openly with His presence.
This inward integrity is starkly illustrated in Luke 18:10-14, where a despised tax collector beats his breast, cries for mercy, and goes down to his house justified, while a self-congratulating Pharisee leaves empty. We do not approach God by parading our merits, but by pleading His mercy. The question of the disciples in Luke 11:1—"Lord, teach us to pray"—finds its ultimate foundation in the mediator through whom we come. In John 14:6, Jesus declares that He alone is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Him.
Because of Christ's finished work, prayer is not an anxious leap across an infinite void. Ephesians 2:18 proclaims that through Him we have direct access in one Spirit to the Father. This reality is sealed in Hebrews 10:19-22, which summons believers to enter the holiest place with bold confidence by the blood of Jesus, drawing near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Matthew 6:5 | Jesus warns against praying openly to win human praise, declaring that public admiration is the only reward hypocrites will receive. |
| Matthew 6:6 | Christ instructs disciples to shut the door and pray in secret to the Father, who sees in secret and rewards openly. |
| Luke 18:10-14 | The humble tax collector seeking mercy is justified before God, whereas the self-righteous Pharisee recounting his merits is rejected. |
| John 14:6 | Jesus identifies Himself as the only way to the Father, establishing that all true approach to God comes through Him. |
| Ephesians 2:18 | Believers possess access through Christ in one Spirit directly unto the Father. |
| Luke 11:1 | The disciples ask Jesus directly to teach them how to pray, prompting His foundational instruction. |
| Hebrews 10:19-22 | Believers possess bold access into the holy place through the blood of Jesus, with sincere hearts in full assurance. |
The Attitude
Speak Sincerity, Not Empty Repetition
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:8 (NIV)
God does not require endless persuasion or magical formulas because He already knows every need of His children.
In Matthew 6:8, Jesus gives breathtaking reassurance: your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him. Prayer is therefore not an anxious effort to persuade an uninformed or reluctant deity. In Matthew 6:7, Christ explicitly forbids the empty babbling of the pagans, who mistakenly believe that their sheer volume of verbiage and rhythmic repetitions will compel heaven to listen. True prayer rests upon the Father’s sovereign attentiveness rather than our eloquence.
This reverence requires deliberate restraint of our lips. Solomon cautions in Ecclesiastes 5:2 that God is in heaven while we are on earth, commanding that our words be few, sober, and weighed with awe. Hannah embodies this spirit of quiet humility in 1 Samuel 1:13-15. Though her lips moved without outward sound, she was pouring out her soul before the Lord, proving that silent, desperate faith reaches heaven far faster than loud religious rhetoric.
The psalmist echoes this vulnerable trust in Psalms 62:8, urging God's people to pour out their hearts before Him at all times. Even when grief, confusion, or exhaustion renders us incapable of framing coherent requests, God provides help. In Romans 8:26-27, the Apostle Paul reveals that the Holy Spirit intercedes for the saints with groanings too deep for words, searching the heart and pleading according to the exact will of God.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Matthew 6:7 | Jesus forbids heapings of empty phrases like the Gentiles, who assume that mere volume of words guarantees a hearing. |
| Matthew 6:8 | Christ comforts His followers by reminding them that their Heavenly Father knows their needs before they ask. |
| Ecclesiastes 5:2 | Solomon cautions against rash speech before God in heaven, urging words to be few, sober, and reverent. |
| Romans 8:26-27 | The Holy Spirit intercedes for believers according to God's will when they do not know how to pray as they ought. |
| Psalms 62:8 | The psalmist commands trusting in God at all times and pouring out one's heart before Him in sincere vulnerability. |
| 1 Samuel 1:13-15 | Hannah prays from her heart without outward noise, pouring out her deep sorrow and soul before the Lord. |
The Pattern
The Model Christ Gave His Disciples
“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Matthew 6:9 (NIV)
The Lord's Prayer begins by establishing God's paternal love in heaven and ordering our first desire around the holiness of His name.
When the disciples sought instruction on how to address God in Luke 11:2-4, Jesus delivered the enduring pattern of prayer recorded in Matthew 6:9-13. In Matthew 6:9, the petition opens with supreme majesty: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name." True prayer begins by reorienting our affections toward the holy character of God. Before any personal petition is voiced, Matthew 6:10 demands that our desires bend entirely to the rule of heaven: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Only after establishing the supremacy of God’s glory does the disciple bring earthly necessities. Matthew 6:11 teaches a humble posture of daily dependence: "Give us this day our daily bread." This request rejects both covetous hoarding and anxious self-reliance, trusting God for each day's sustenance. Matthew 6:12 immediately turns to spiritual cleansing, asking the Father to forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors, cementing the inseparable connection between experiencing grace and extending it.
The pattern concludes in Matthew 6:13 with a plea for divine guidance and protection: "Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." The heart that prays this way rests securely in the sovereign conclusion: "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." As Nehemiah 8:6 demonstrates, God's people answer such sovereign truth with bowed heads and an earnest, reverent "Amen," sealing their unreserved trust in His reign.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Matthew 6:9 | Jesus provides the foundational address, honoring our Father in heaven and petitioning that His holy name be hallowed. |
| Matthew 6:10 | The disciple asks for God's kingdom to come and His divine will to be done on earth as in heaven. |
| Matthew 6:11 | The petitioner humbly asks the Father to supply daily bread and physical sustenance for the present day. |
| Matthew 6:12 | Christ links the request for divine forgiveness of debts to our own readiness to forgive debtors. |
| Matthew 6:13 | The prayer asks for deliverance from temptation and the evil one, concluding with praise for God's eternal kingdom, power, and glory. |
| Nehemiah 8:6 | The congregation ratifies God's word and solemn worship with an answering 'Amen, Amen,' lifting hands in bowed adoration. |
| Luke 11:2-4 | Jesus teaches the model prayer directly to disciples seeking how to order their prayers. |
The Condition
Forgive Others to Be Forgiven
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Mark 11:25 (NIV)
Unforgiveness held in the heart erects an immediate barrier between the praying believer and the Father's mercy.
In Mark 11:25, Jesus issues a piercing condition: whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him. Prayer cannot be isolated from our conduct toward others. Jesus repeats this solemn truth in Matthew 6:14-15, warning that if we refuse to forgive men their trespasses, neither will our heavenly Father forgive our trespasses. An unforgiving spirit reveals a heart that has forgotten the staggering depth of the mercy it claimed to receive.
This sobering reality is dramatized in Matthew 18:21-35 through the parable of the unforgiving servant. The master rescinds mercy and hands over to torment the debtor who, having been pardoned an unpayable sum, choked his fellow servant over pocket change. Withholding forgiveness from a brother builds an impenetrable wall between the soul and God. The Apostle Peter reinforces this practical principle in 1 Peter 3:7, warning husbands that failing to honor and cherish their wives causes their prayers to be completely hindered.
Scripture makes plain that unrepentant sin clogs the channel of communion. In Psalms 66:18, the psalmist testifies that if one cherishes iniquity in his heart, the Lord will not hear. Proverbs 28:9 warns that turning away one’s ear from hearing God's law renders even one's prayer an abomination. When requests stem from selfish ambition rather than divine alignment, James 4:3 declares they remain unanswered, because we ask amiss to spend it on our pleasures.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Mark 11:25 | Jesus instructs believers to forgive anyone against whom they hold grievance whenever they stand praying. |
| Matthew 6:14-15 | Christ warns that refusing to forgive other people's trespasses closes the door to receiving the Father's forgiveness. |
| Matthew 18:21-35 | The parable of the unforgiving servant illustrates the grave judgment awaiting anyone who withholds mercy after receiving boundless grace. |
| 1 Peter 3:7 | Scripture warns that discord and failing to honor one's spouse causes personal prayers to be hindered. |
| Psalms 66:18 | Cherishing unconfessed iniquity in the heart blocks the Lord from listening to prayer. |
| Proverbs 28:9 | Turning one's ear away from listening to God's law renders even one's prayer an abomination. |
| James 4:3 | Asking with selfish, covetous motives prevents receiving answers from God. |
The Assurance
Seek the Lord While He Is Near
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV)
The Lord makes an unfailing covenant promise that whenever His people call and pray to Him, He listens.
In Jeremiah 29:12, God gives an anchor for every trembling heart: the Lord Himself promises to listen whenever His people call upon Him. This assurance cuts through the lie that prayer is shouting into an empty void. Isaiah 55:6-7 urges all who hear to seek the Lord while He may be found and forsake wicked ways, knowing He will abundantly pardon. Jeremiah 29:12-13 reiterates that God will not remain distant; when we search for Him with our whole heart, He guarantees He will be found.
Because Jesus Christ has opened the way through His blood, believers are commanded in Hebrews 4:16 to come boldly to the throne of grace rather than cowering in fear. There we receive mercy and find timely help for our deepest needs. This access produces quiet confidence: 1 John 5:14-15 assures us that if we ask anything according to His holy will, He hears us, and having heard, He gives what we requested.
Jesus Himself reinforces this fatherly readiness in Matthew 7:7-11, declaring that everyone who asks receives, for the Father gives good gifts to those who approach Him, far exceeding any earthly parent's love. Therefore, as Philippians 4:6-7 commands, we cast away anxiety and present every petition with thanksgiving, allowing God's transcendent peace to guard our hearts.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Isaiah 55:6-7 | The prophet calls all people to seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near. |
| Jeremiah 29:12-13 | God promises that those who call upon Him and search with all their heart will surely find Him. |
| Hebrews 4:16 | Believers are urged to come boldly to the throne of grace to find mercy and timely help in need. |
| 1 John 5:14-15 | John gives assurance that if we ask anything according to God's will, He hears and grants our requests. |
| Matthew 7:7-11 | Jesus promises that whoever asks receives, and that the heavenly Father gives good gifts to those who ask. |
| Philippians 4:6-7 | Believers are told not to be anxious, but in everything by prayer with thanksgiving make requests known to God. |
The Faith
Pray in Faith Without Doubting God's Goodness
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6 (NIV)
It shows that unwavering faith is the vital posture required when coming to God in prayer.
James 1:6 identifies the indispensable posture of true prayer: the petitioner must ask in unwavering faith without doubting. To doubt God's goodness, power, or willingness to help is to become like a wave tossed on a stormy sea. James 1:5-8 warns that a double-minded person, divided between trusting God and leaning on self, should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Faith is not mere positive thinking or a manufactured emotional state; it is an active, settled reliance upon God's character and word. Hebrews 11:6 declares that without faith it is impossible to please God, because whoever approaches Him must believe both that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Faith takes God at His word, acknowledging Him as sovereign and benevolent.
This is why Jesus gave the staggering encouragement of Mark 11:24, telling His followers that whatever they ask for in prayer, they should believe they have received it and it will be theirs. Such confidence does not presume upon God or treat Him as a servant to our selfish whims; rather, it trusts that what He has promised, He is fully capable and faithful to bring to pass.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| James 1:5-8 | Prayer for wisdom must be offered in faith without doubting, lest the double-minded man receive nothing. |
| Hebrews 11:6 | Drawing near to God requires believing that He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him. |
| Mark 11:24 | Jesus teaches disciples to believe that they have received what they ask for in prayer. |
The Persistence
Persevere Continually and Never Lose Heart
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
Luke 18:1 (NIV)
Jesus explicitly establishes the necessity of enduring, unceasing prayer rather than growing discouraged.
Luke 18:1 establishes an urgent rule for Christian life: disciples ought always to pray and never lose heart. Knowing how easily delay leads to despair, Jesus delivered the parable in Luke 18:1-8 of the persistent widow who refused to give up until the unjust judge granted her justice. If an unrighteous judge finally yields to persistent entreaty, how much more will our righteous, loving God swiftly avenge His elect who cry to Him day and night?
Jesus illustrates this same shameless audacity in Luke 11:5-8, where a man knocks at midnight until his sleeping neighbor rises to provide bread. Our Father does not grow weary or irritated by our importunity; He welcomes it. Thus, the Apostle Paul instructs the church in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray continually without ceasing, maintaining an unbroken thread of communion with God through every season.
This discipline requires vigilance. Ephesians 6:18 charges believers to pray at all times in the Spirit, watching with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Colossians 4:2 echoes this charge, telling us to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer, remaining watchful and filled with thanksgiving even when answers seem delayed.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Luke 18:1-8 | Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow so disciples will always pray and never lose heart. |
| Luke 11:5-8 | Jesus illustrates boldness and persistence in prayer through the friend knocking at midnight. |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:17 | Paul commands believers to pray continually and without ceasing. |
| Ephesians 6:18 | Believers are charged to pray at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and perseverance. |
| Colossians 4:2 | Paul instructs the church to devote themselves steadfastly to prayer, staying watchful and thankful. |
The Authority
Bring Every Petition in Christ's Name
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:13 (NIV)
It defines prayer's authoritative ground and supreme aim: Christ's name and the Father's glory.
In John 14:13, Jesus reveals the ultimate foundation and objective of Christian petition: asking in His name so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. To pray in the name of Jesus is not to tack a decorative formula onto the end of our desires; it is to come clothed in His righteousness, standing solely on His merits, and aligning our requests with His redemptive mission. In John 14:14, He repeats the pledge: whatever we ask in His name, He will do it.
This authority is rooted in covenant relationship. In John 15:16, Jesus reminds His followers that they did not choose Him, but He chose and appointed them to bear lasting fruit, so that whatever they ask the Father in His name will be granted. Christ mediates our relationship with God entirely. In John 16:23-24, He explains that we now approach the Father directly through His mediation; asking in His name leads to receiving, so that our joy may be made full.
Because Jesus reigns as Lord over every aspect of existence, Colossians 3:17 governs all our speech and actions: everything must be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Our prayers carry weight in heaven not because of our eloquence or worthiness, but because of the spotless name of the Savior who intercedes on our behalf.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| John 14:13-14 | Jesus promises to do whatever is asked in His name so the Father may be glorified in the Son. |
| John 15:16 | Disciples are appointed to bear fruit and ask the Father in Christ's name, receiving what they ask. |
| John 16:23-24 | Jesus invites disciples to ask the Father directly in His name so their joy may be full. |
| Colossians 3:17 | Every word and deed, including petition, is to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus. |
The Submission
Surrender Desires to the Father's Sovereign Will
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Luke 22:42 (NIV)
The Lord Himself demonstrates that genuine prayer culminates in submitting personal longing to God's purpose.
In Luke 22:42, the Lord Jesus exposes the ultimate posture of authentic prayer during His anguish in Gethsemane: genuine prayer culminates in yielding human desire to the Father's sovereign purpose. Kneeling amid deep agony, Christ did not manipulate God or insist on His own relief. Instead, He articulated His earnest petition before immediately anchoring it in obedience: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." Jesus shows us that petitioning God honestly does not exclude reverent surrender. True faith does not demand that God rubber-stamp human ambitions; it entrusts every outcome to His flawless wisdom.
This posture of submission must govern every petition and life plan we bring before the throne. In James 4:13-15, believers are cautioned against arrogant presumption when mapping out their futures. James instructs Christians to frame every intention under divine sovereignty, teaching us to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." Prayer reframes our minds so that we hold our schedules, ambitions, and hopes with an open hand, recognizing that God alone rules tomorrow.
Such submission echoes the humble readiness of the young prophet in 1 Samuel 3:10, who answered the divine call with, "Speak, for your servant hears." Rather than approaching God primarily with a list of demands, the heart formed by Scripture begins with an attentive posture ready to listen and obey. Surrender in prayer is neither passive resignation nor bitter defeat. It is the peaceful, resolute confidence that the Father's will is greater, holier, and more merciful than anything we could ask on our own.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Luke 22:42 | Jesus yields His own human will to the Father in Gethsemane, praying for God's will to be done. |
| James 4:13-15 | Believers are taught to frame all plans and desires under the sovereign condition of the Lord's will. |
| 1 Samuel 3:10 | Samuel models humble submission before God's voice, declaring himself ready as a servant to hear. |
Where in the Bible
| Book | Passages |
|---|---|
| 1 Samuel | 2 · 1 Samuel 1:13-15, 1 Samuel 3:10 |
| Nehemiah | 1 · Nehemiah 8:6 |
| Psalms | 2 · Psalms 62:8, Psalms 66:18 |
| Proverbs | 1 · Proverbs 28:9 |
| Ecclesiastes | 1 · Ecclesiastes 5:2 |
| Isaiah | 1 · Isaiah 55:6-7 |
| Jeremiah | 1 · Jeremiah 29:12-13 |
| Matthew | 12 · Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:6, Matthew 6:7, Matthew 6:8, Matthew 6:9, Matthew 6:10, Matthew 6:11, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 6:13, Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 7:7-11 |
| Mark | 2 · Mark 11:25, Mark 11:24 |
| Luke | 6 · Luke 18:10-14, Luke 11:1, Luke 11:2-4, Luke 18:1-8, Luke 11:5-8, Luke 22:42 |
| John | 4 · John 14:6, John 14:13-14, John 15:16, John 16:23-24 |
| Romans | 1 · Romans 8:26-27 |
| Ephesians | 2 · Ephesians 2:18, Ephesians 6:18 |
| Philippians | 1 · Philippians 4:6-7 |
| Colossians | 2 · Colossians 4:2, Colossians 3:17 |
| 1 Thessalonians | 1 · 1 Thessalonians 5:17 |
| Hebrews | 3 · Hebrews 10:19-22, Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 11:6 |
| James | 3 · James 4:3, James 1:5-8, James 4:13-15 |
| 1 Peter | 1 · 1 Peter 3:7 |
| 1 John | 1 · 1 John 5:14-15 |
The story in order
- Creation and Fall (c. 4000 BC) · Genesis 1:26-28 · God establishes relationship and communication with humanity.
- The Fall and its Consequences (c. 4000 BC) · Genesis 3:1-7 · Sin breaks communion, leading to hiding from God.
- Abrahamic Covenant (c. 2000 BC) · Genesis 12:1-3 · God initiates relationship with a chosen people.
- Exodus and Law (c. 1450 BC) · Exodus 20:1-17 · God gives His law, defining how to live before Him.
- Davidic Covenant (c. 1000 BC) · 2 Samuel 7:11-16 · God promises an everlasting kingdom through David's line.
- Prophetic Warnings (c. 700 BC) · Isaiah 55:6-7 · Call to seek God while He may be found.
- Exile and Return (c. 590 BC) · Jeremiah 29:12-13 · Promise of finding God when sought with the whole heart.
- Jesus' Ministry Begins (c. AD 28) · Luke 11:1 · Disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray.
- Sermon on the Mount (c. AD 30) · Matthew 6:5-15 · Jesus teaches the principles and pattern of prayer.
- Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane (AD 30) · Luke 22:42 · Jesus models submission to the Father's will in prayer.
- Crucifixion and Resurrection (AD 30) · John 19:30 · Jesus' work secures our access to the Father.
- Ascension and Intercession (c. AD 60) · Hebrews 4:16 · Believers have bold access to the throne of grace.
- Apostolic Teaching (c. AD 50) · 1 Thessalonians 5:17 · Instruction to pray continually.
The Lord's Prayer: Petition and Principle
| Petition | Principle Illustrated | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Hallowed be your name | God's glory and holiness | Matthew 6:9 |
| Your kingdom come, your will be done | Alignment with God's reign | Matthew 6:10 |
| Give us today our daily bread | Dependence on God's provision | Matthew 6:11 |
| Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors | The necessity of forgiving others | Matthew 6:12 |
| Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one | Seeking protection from sin and evil | Matthew 6:13 |
Conditions for Answered Prayer
| Condition | Consequence of Neglect | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Praying to the Father in secret | Receiving no reward but human praise | Matthew 6:5-6 |
| Sincerity, not empty repetition | God knows needs; avoids Gentile babbling | Matthew 6:7-8 |
| Forgiving others | Unforgiven trespasses hinder forgiveness | Matthew 6:14-15 |
| Believing in faith | Double-mindedness receives nothing | James 1:5-8 |
| Asking according to God's will | Assurance of hearing and granting | 1 John 5:14-15 |
Key words
- Father (Abba (Aramaic))
- God as the loving, caring, and sovereign parent to His redeemed children. · Mark 14:36
- Kingdom of God (Basileia tou Theou (Greek))
- God's sovereign rule and reign, both in heaven and increasingly on earth. · Matthew 6:10
- Will of God (Thelema (Greek))
- The desires and purposes of God, which believers are to seek and obey. · Luke 22:42
- Forgiveness (Aphesis (Greek))
- The remission of sins or debts, both from God to us and from us to others. · Matthew 6:12
- Faith (Pistis (Greek))
- Trust and belief in God's existence, promises, and goodness, especially in prayer. · Hebrews 11:6
- Persistence (Epimonē (Greek))
- Continuing steadfastly in prayer without giving up, trusting God's timing. · Luke 18:1-8
- In Jesus' Name (En tō onomati Iēsou (Greek))
- Praying with His authority, for His glory, and according to His will. · John 14:13-14
Approaching God in prayer does not demand polished eloquence or anxious striving, because your Father already knows what you need. Enter your room, shut the door, and speak plainly to the One who sees in secret and delights to hear your voice. As you honor His name and seek His will, He faithfully pardons your sin, sustains your days, and delivers you from evil.
48 passages, each cited once.
Scripture cited
- Matthew 6:5-13
- Luke 18:13
- Mark 11:25
- Isaiah 55:6-7
- Jeremiah 29:12
- Philippians 4:6-7