In our series on looking to Jesus’ example I thought it was important to key in on major practices done in the Christian life and prayer is a major part of the Christian life. That is why, in this post, we will be looking at the example Jesus gives for prayer. We find this example right in the middle of one of the greatest messages ever given, the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus takes time in this great message to speak to us about how we are to commune with God.

Hallowed Be Your Name

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10

The first thing we see in this prayer is the exaltation of God. This is an important foundation of your prayer. It leads you to build the rest of your prayer on the basis that God is above our plans and that it is His will that would be done, not yours. Once you understand this, you can bring all that you have in a God-honoring way. Prayer is not going to God to give Him a wishlist He is obligated to fulfill. Even when we pray, it is still God’s will that we should pray for. Prayer is a gift from God, but like all things gifted from God, it is best spent in use to glorify Jesus. 

Daily Bread

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:11-12

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him Matthew 7:11

When we recognize that God’s will comes first, we are able to bring our needs. God has never been one to tire of hearing His children’s needs. He is a loving Father who desires to give everything that we need. Jesus builds on this later on in the sermon on the mount. If the sinful fathers of this world would give gifts, then why do we hesitate to go to our perfect and holy Father. He is ready to give His children every good thing and satisfy every need, both physical and spiritual. Jesus demonstrates this by praying for both physical provision and forgiveness for sins. Hunger might spur us on to pray to God, but conviction should spur us to pray even more. God cares for your life on earth and your eternal life. Go to Him whenever your faith feels week or when seasons of need.

Deliver Us

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:13

Jesus builds on this idea in the next section of His prayer. God not only wants to hear your needs; He also wants you to bring your struggles with temptations to Him. Everyone will be tempted in some way. God knows this and wants us to get in front of it and bring them to Him. God knows how we will be tempted and how we can resist those temptations, it only makes sense to run to Him. We should not be ashamed of our temptations; rather, we should take them to God, asking Him to guide and protect us. This is not a reactionary prayer, but a proactive, everyday prayer preparing us for temptation. Jesus is instructing us to pray for the temptations that will come. If you take a moment to examine your life, you can see where you are most tempted and what area of life you fall for temptations the most, pray specifically for them. It can be disheartening to pray for a particular temptation when you keep falling for it, but do not lose hope, God promises to lead and protect you even when you are minutes removed from failing. God did not come to help those who are perfect; He came for the broken and stumbling. Pray that God would remove your stumbling blocks and keep you far from your vices.