by Emily Wooten
Matthew 6:5-8 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
In response to the request, “Teach us to pray.” Jesus started by telling the disciples what not to do. Don’t pray to be seen or heard. Don’t use vain repetitions. Prayer is not a chant or mantra. We see from these scriptures it is possible for a Christian to turn prayer time into lip service. Dotting all the i’s and crossing all the T’s can turn prayer into a meaningless act of checking the box. Prayer is meant to be a time of communication between a human or humans and God. We talk, we listen and Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and understanding.
Jesus continued to share with us all the correct way to approach God in prayer.
Matthew 6:9-10 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.
Submitting ourselves to his will as we come to him in praise acknowledges God’s sovereign power while thanking him for all he has done and who he is. Notice Jesus prayed your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
In Matthew 18-18 is recorded where Jesus told them whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven: and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. He didn’t say what things I bind or loose. He said whatever you bind and loose. It is the Christian who is speaking in the authority of our risen savior to bind or loose.
Verse 11 we ask for our needs to be met. Our heavenly father knows what we need before we ask so there is no need to call out a detailed list of wants, but we are instructed to ask. .
Verse 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. There exist a spiritual law. If you don’t forgive others, it hinders mercy. We are required to loose all those grudges, and hurt feelings to our father and let him heal our hearts.
Matthew 6: 14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11: 25-26 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Verse 13 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.
Our prayer begins and ends with praise to God and submission to his authority. This isn’t really the end of our prayer. We can continue the conversation with God throughout the day. We listen for his instructions, as he shares from his insight and wisdom and Holy Spirit reveals to us God’s his plan. Prayer is as much about hearing as it is speaking.