Abiding in the PsalmsSample

How to pray

Sometimes this is how I feel toward prayer: I know what I want to say, or I know that I want to speak to God but I just don’t know how to articulate it, and sometimes it feels like it just comes out all wrong.

Jesus, in the book of Matthew, gives us an example of how to pray. You may know this prayer really well, maybe you recite it at school sometimes, or you’ve been taught it by your parents or grandparents. We are going to break it down, and it shows us how we are to pray to our Father. 

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,”

The word hallowed means greatly revered and honoured. Our Father is a good God, and He deserves all the honour and the praise. When we pray, let’s spend a minute thanking Him and praising Him, giving Him the honour! 

“your kingdom come,
your will be done,
 on earth as it is in heaven.”

God’s kingdom is perfect; it is where everything is made right. God’s will is right and good and when we live our lives according to it, it pleases God! Invite Him into your life, asking for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven! 

“Give us today our daily bread.”

Ask God to give you what you need for this day, and this day alone. We’re not asking God to give us the money we need to save up and buy that car we want. God is our provider, so ask Him to do just that! Provide for this day, and He will!

 

“And forgive us our debts,
 as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Ask God for His forgiveness. Everyday we sin against our God. We turn our backs from Him and try to do things in our own strength. Ask for His forgiveness and He will FREELY give it to you. And because He has done that, because He forgave us even though we continue to hurt Him, we are expected to forgive those who have hurt us. 

“And lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from the evil one."

This life is full of temptation--the world offers a lot of things that look really good but they never satisfy. Jesus knows this, as He experienced it personally! Ask God to help us as we journey through life. Ask God to keep you on the path that leads to Him!

Pray 

Have a go praying using this structure that Jesus teaches us!