THE PATTERN FOR PRAYER
“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”- Luke 11:1–4
This is the only place in Scripture where it is recorded that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them something. Though He was constantly teaching them as they went from place to place in His ministry, the example the disciples saw in Jesus’ prayer life moved them to ask Him for specific instruction on this vital topic. It is important for us to remember the central and vital importance of prayer to the successful Christian life.
In the Lord’s Prayer, or more accurately the model prayer, we see what Jesus thought was important for us in our own prayers. We are to pray to honor and glorify the name of God. We should pray for His will to be done, both in our own lives and in the lives of others. We should pray daily for provision of our needs. We should ask forgiveness for our sins, and we should pray for deliverance from temptation. In short, every part and facet of life is a fit subject for our prayers. If we do not pray, we miss the provision and protection and victory God means for us to have.
William Cowper put it this way:
Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian’s armor bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.
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David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble, Tx.
