From “Our Father” to “Amen”

What is prayer? When we put it all together, prayer is an expression of our dependency on God.

Jesus provides some insight. He says, “When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place” (Matthew 6:6). God is inviting us into the secret place, the place of mystery, the place where the unseen God hears real people. He loves for us to ask. He wants us to ask. He waits for us to ask. He doesn’t want vain or meaningless prayers. He desires us to call out to Him as our Father; to express our dependency on Him in meaningful and heartfelt conversation.

Jesus goes on to tell His disciples how they should pray. He gives them what many call a model prayer for us to follow in Matthew 6:9-13. Many call it the Lord’s prayer. You might be tempted to simply repeat it, but again, Jesus wants us to understand the heart of it, to use it as a basis for our prayers. The Lord’s prayer is a blueprint for prayer that can help teach us how to pray.

This is then how you should pray…

“Our Father in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

―Matthew 6:9-13

Series Links:

• Our Father in Heaven | Watch the message and use the study guide to learn what the Bible says about it.
• Your Kingdom Come | Watch the message and use the study guide to learn what the Bible says about it.
• Our Daily Bread | Watch the message and use the study guide to learn what the Bible says about it.
• Forgive and Be Forgiven | Watch the message and use the study guide to learn what the Bible says about it.
• Deliver Us from Evil | Watch the message and use the study guide to learn what the Bible says about it.
• Forever Amen! | Watch the message and use the study guide to learn what the Bible says about it.

Share your thoughts and takeaways here!

Coming Up: Watch this Sunday here!