Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

As I said yesterday one f the examples given to us by Jesus in how to pray is here in Matthew 9. The first thing he declared was for us to pray in this manner. Not to use these exact words but as an outline for prayer.

What we often overlook is the issue of prayer is a privilege. We are privileged to be able to pray to God because of our relationship. Our Father is more than a directive clause, it recognizes privilege in relationship. He is our Father God.

Proverbs 15:29 The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

He hears our prayers because we are in right relationship with Him. Not by works, by grace, by faith in Christ, having receive Him in our hearts. I say this because we so often take prayer for granted and forget just how privileged we are to be given the right to pray.

One reason Jesus gave us a form for prayer was to respect order and content. The first four points should be clear in our minds as intent of prayer. Who do we address? What Is He to us? Give Him respect. Recognize His authority. Submit to His will.

So often our prayers begin, “Help!”

Don’t blame God if the devil answers that prayer.

Isaiah 33:2 O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

As we address these issues of growing in Christ it would be wrong of me to ignore prayer any longer. Prayer was such an important part of who Christ was and it should not be ignored by us.

Luke 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

This verse shows the end results of a perfect life of perfect prayer. Who would not want to be seen as transformed in prayer, that your very countenance would be seen by others as a testament to the power and glory of our Lord? If that should be your goal in prayer you will fail miserably. Men of God who attained to that level of prayer did not do so in public. They perfected prayer in private.

As you read more and more about prayer life in Christ, you will find few examples of the words used by Jesus in prayer. When asked to teach His disciples how to pray, He gave us the Lord’s prayer as a guide, an outline, structure of prayer. He never meant for those words to be used solely as prayer.

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

A thing repeated over and over and over loses all sincerity. The structure of the Lord’s prayer is what Christ was showing by example. The same can be seen in that Isaiah 33:2 prayer. Simplicity, directness, without embellishment or grand sounding words.

In the beginning of our walk with Christ, as children our prayers are simple, clean, uncomplicated. If I were to advise you on anything about prayer, I would encourage you not to lose that in your personal prayer time. You will always be His child.