Prayer is one of the most profound privileges God has given to us. It opens us up a line of direct communication with God which allows us to express our desires to him and align ourselves with him/his will. While prayer may be daunting, with many Christians worrying about how to pray effectively, the Bible actually gives a lot of guidance regarding it.
In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus told his disciples how to pray and the starting line was “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” This highlights the importance of showing reverence for God when approaching prayer. It teaches us how to address God which is by acknowledging who he is and going in with a heart of worship.
The next line in verse 10 says “your kingdom come, your will be done” this line demonstrates a need to align our will with God’s. No matter what your requests are and how you personally feel, may his will still be done. It is a posture of submission and humility and as scripture says in James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” It makes God receptive to your prayer because he wants to answer in a way that aligns with his will. When Jesus prayed for relief in Luke 22:42, he said “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.” Always submit to the will of God in prayer.
Verse 11 then says “Give us today our daily bread.” which is a personal request followed by verses 12-13. Ask God for anything in prayer no matter how big or small. Personalise your prayers however you want but also remember to ask God for help in living a righteous life as demonstrated in verse 13.
The Bible also tells us to be persistent in prayer in Luke 18:1: Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. This means that you should pray even when you don’t see results because just like the parable of the persistent widow, your persistence might be the key to your prayers being answered. Remember, prayer is a direct line of communication with God so you have to keep that channel open. Prayer is a spiritual lifestyle so try to pray everyday which 1 Thessalonians 5:17 commands.
Finally, remember to thank God. Scripture commands that you accompany your prayers with thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. It is a vital tool.
