How Should I Pray?Sample

Day #3: How to Pray – (Part 2 – Petition and Forgiveness)

So far, in the Lord’s example, we have been taught the foundation of our prayers: His Position, His holiness and His will His way. Now we move on to the prayer of petition.

1) “Give us this day our daily bread.” (petition)

Each word is important here as He GIVES to US all that we need for DAILY provision... Bread was a powerful symbol of God’s provision for His people in the Old Testament. This petition teaches us to come to God in a spirit of humble daily dependence, asking Him to provide what we need to sustain us from day to day. We are not given license to ask for great riches, but we are encouraged to make our needs known to Him, trusting that He will provide. It is more about an attitude of communion and life together than about demands for food. This causes me to evaluate my choice of daily dependence versus my rogue independence and ideas on sustenance and provision. 

2) “And Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (forgiveness)

Forgiveness is imperative for effective prayer and successful living. Not only are we to pray with a recognition of our sin nature within but a humility that reaches out to forgive others with the same. We are all suffering from an inherited sin condition. No one is exempt. But, by the blood of Jesus, our new nature is redeemed. We get to receive this grace and we must offer this grace of forgiveness to others. 

Do you pray daily for His perfect provision? Do you humble yourself and ask for forgiveness as you forgive others?