Matthew 6:9-15

Do you struggle with your prayer life, or is it an enjoyable moment to reflect and be refreshed in a one-on-one time with Him? Do you think prayer is a waste of time, or do you see it as an opportunity to offer yourself up to God, and intercede for others? Many find their prayer time difficult and wonder whether or not they are even praying for the right things. Others get distracted in prayer and fall asleep, or end up daydreaming over unrelated things. How can you learn to pray, and pray effectively? These are the topics Jesus addressed in Matthew 6:9-15. This section of Scripture is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer; however, it should probably be called the disciple’s prayer, because it is a model prayer for His disciples to learn what to pray for.

My hope is that I can challenge and encourage you through this study to focus more on your prayer life. Why? Because I believe prayer is a very important aspect for your growth and maturity in your Christian life. But, is prayer that important to you? Do you see how essential prayer is for your communion with God, and for the strength you need each day? This was exactly why Jesus expanded his teaching on prayer after just addressing the topics of giving, prayer, and fasting in the previous verses. Remember, Jesus never talked about something unless it was important. The disciples at this particular point don’t have a clue concerning their need for prayer. Why do I say this? Because if you consider Luke 11:1-2, which takes place about halfway through the ministry of Christ, notice what happens. Luke records, “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.’ So He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.’” Note that Jesus taught them the exact same truths found here in our text in Matthew 6. Isn’t it interesting that at this particular point, halfway through the ministry of Christ, as the disciples watched Him go off over and over again to pray, that now they see their need for prayer? The disciples probably thought, Why is He always going off by Himself to pray? Why does He pray so much​? This was why they then asked Him, “Teach us to pray.” They must have seen their need to learn to pray. So, He again taught this simple instruction on the basics of prayer. Have you ever asked the Lord to teach you to pray? I hope you have, because you do need His personal instruction to help you. If you have never asked Him, ask Him now!

What should be your focal points in prayer?

How should you understand this prayer given by Jesus? This is simply a model prayer. In other words, it gives you the major focal points that you should have in your prayer time. This is why Jesus said, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matt. 6:9-13).

First notice this phrase, “in this manner.” The Greek word means, in this way, in this fashion, or after this example. Therefore, this is only an example, or pattern for prayer. It is not a prayer that should be recited repetitiously as though there is some benefit from praying this word for word as many do today in the church. Why do I say this? If you go back to Matthew 6:7, Jesus warned the disciples, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.” Consequently, Jesus does not want this prayer, or any prayer, to be turned into some religious ritual to be said to gain God’s favor. Vain repetition of any prayer is worthless, because God wants you to talk to Him from your heart, not through some religious ritual. In addition, these same words, “in this manner,” are clearly used to describe an example. Notice how Peter used this same word when he wrote, “For in this manner in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands” (1 Peter 3:5). In this passage you can clearly see the intent of Peter, using the same Greek phrase, so that the women would follow the example of the holy women of the past, and be submissive to their husbands. The Lord’s Prayer is to be an example of how you should pray, and each of the critical issues that you should be praying about are included in this prayer. 

The two sections of this prayer

This model prayer is broken into two sections: God’s concerns for you, and your personal concerns. It’s very interesting that the Ten Commandments are separated in this very same way. The first four commands address your relationship with God, and the last six commands deal with how you should relate to men. In addition, the two great commandments are divided similarly. You must first love God, and then love your brother. In prayer, you are to fix your attention first on the Father, His holiness, His will, and His kingdom. Only then should you bring your petitions to Him for His provision, forgiveness, and freedom from temptation and the evil one.

Let’s consider these important issues concerning prayer.

There are seven concerns that Jesus wanted His disciples to pray about. These issues must be your prayer focus. Let’s look at them individually.

1. First, acknowledge the Father who loves you, and who is sovereign over all. “Father”

When you begin to pray, do you start by first setting your focus on your heavenly Father? Do you fix your heart and mind on Him, and the love, mercy, and ability He has to answer you? This is very important, because you are talking to the One who has created all things. He is the one who has created the billions of galaxies our universe, and the one who has created you. Your Father is the one who possesses all power in heaven and in the earth, and who used His power to redeem you from your sin because of His great love. He is your Father who provides for and sustains you, and every living creature on this earth. He is also your heavenly Father! Do you see Him as your Father, or just some impersonal God? Which is it? When you pray do you address Him as your Father? Now don’t misunderstand me, there’s nothing wrong with addressing Him as Lord or God. But how often do you hear yourself call Him Father? Do you have the openness and freedom to cry out to Him as you would your earthly Father? I believe that this is a critical place to begin in your prayer life. Why? Because you must see Him as the entire reason you have eternal life today, because you have been redeemed from your sins. Notice in Romans 8:15 how Paul taught this critical truth when he wrote, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father.” Do you understand that your heavenly Father has adopted you as His own son or daughter? Paul also taught in Galatians 4:6, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba Father.’” When the Holy Spirit rules inside of you, He will then move you to cry out in prayer to your Father. The term Abba is an informal and intimate Aramaic word for father. It would have been used by a child for his or her personal father or dad. The latter word, Father is the normal Greek word for father. Literally Paul was teaching that we should cry out, “Father, Father.” Why does Paul make this point of using this informal word Abba for crying out to Him? Jesus also used this same phrase when He prayed in the garden. He said, “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36). This terminology was to describe the personal affection and fondness of a child for their own father. Jesus was teaching us to come to our Father with childlike faith, and with the assurance of His love. This is how a child cries out to his or her own father. Why? Because they are assured that their parent loves them, and cares about their needs. They know that their parent will always take care of them, provide for them, and listen to them. Seventeen times in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed or referred to the one who sent Him as His Father. That is not a coincidence. Christ’s intent was to lead us into that same relationship that He had with His Father. Therefore, think about how you are addressing the One to whom you pray. Are you talking to the One who loves you with all that He has, someone who created you and redeemed you, and who has all the power needed to answer your prayer? Get your eyes fixed correctly on your great God and Father. Getting your focus on your heavenly Father, will greatly aid in every other aspect of your prayer time.

2. Praise and worship of the Holy One. “Hallowed be your Name”

Second, Jesus encouraged His disciples to acknowledge and worship the Father Who is holy, and Who deserves to be revered. The word hallowed means holy, or revered, which is exactly Who our God is! His name is to be praised and acknowledged as holy, because He is holy, and without any corruption. To understand this part of prayer, you must understand that your name represents who you are, and His name represents Who He is. This is why the angels of heaven, “Do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’” (Rev. 4:8). He is holy, which means that He is separate from anyone or anything in this corrupt world. There is no one like Him (Deut. 33:26; 1 Sam, 2:2). However, we too are very different. We are corrupt, and in great need of His holiness. Holiness must be your ultimate personal goal in life. If you ever want to experience His holiness, you must revere Him as the Holy One. When you come to Him in prayer, do you come with the sense of intimacy and knowing Him as your Father, yet also as the Holy One? This aspect of prayer is very important. You must have an intimate fondness of Him as your loving Father, but also a respect of Him as the Holy One. This dual attitude is something very important, because it creates in you the balance necessary for a right relationship with Him. This is how you can recognize His love for you, and at the same time see your need to be changed and transformed into His image. Recognizing His holiness is what caused Paul to declare that Jesus has, “A name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, . . . and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil. 2:9-11). Note that the natural result of acknowledging His name which is above every name, is the reason why a person will bow their knee to Him. Most Jews would never speak the actual personal name of God. They would just say, The Name. They felt His name was so holy, that their corrupt lips could not speak His personal name. I believe this is one of the reasons why Jesus spoke of Him as, “Our Father,” to balance the people’s concept of God. Do you see the Father as the Holy One, and as your ultimate personal goal in life, to be holy just as He is holy? This is why Peter repeated the Old Testament declaration of God that is made over and over again, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16; Lev. 20:26; Lev. 11:45). Holiness is what the Holy Spirit of God is seeking to do in each of our lives. He wants to purify us just as He is pure (1 John 3:3). Therefore, in all your prayers you must acknowledge and worship Him as the Holy One, and remember that this is the work that He is also seeking to accomplish in you! This balance is so important for each of us! He has made you holy, blameless, and unreproachable in His sight by the death and resurrection of Christ (Col. 1:21-22). But He still wants you to pursue holiness, if you ever want to see Him face to face (Heb. 12:14).

3. Prioritize and surrender to His Kingdom and will. “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done”

The third general aspect of prayer that Jesus was stressing to His disciples was that of priority and surrender to the Father’s kingdom and will. You must acknowledge every day that His kingdom and His will are supreme over yours. This priority is so critical for your prayer life, so that you are not just seeking God to bless your kingdom and your will. God wants your priorities to be correct, and He wants your heart surrendered to these priorities. When you come to the Lord in prayer, acknowledge Him as your loving Father, and rejoice in the love that He has for you. Acknowledge His holiness, surrender to His will and the principles of His kingdom, so that everything you pray for will magnify His will and purposes. As you acknowledge this truth in your heart, and live it out in your life, you will find real satisfaction and happiness in life. Why? Because you are in harmony with the reason God created you in the first place. You exist for God’s will, and to serve Him in His kingdom. Until you realize this fact, you will never find real life. Notice what the people declare who are in heaven as they are before the throne of God. They declare to Him, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4:11). Note, “all things,” that means everything that He has created, He did so for His will. Because His will is perfect and righteous (Deut. 32:4). The Greek preposition translated, “by,” in the phrase, “by Your will,” can also be translated, “through,” or, “for.” I personally like the way the old King James Version translates this phrase, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Do you realize that you were created for God’s will and pleasure, and to fulfill His will and pleasure in this life? Until you surrender to His will, you will never find the happiness, joy, purpose and meaning for which you were created. When a Christian realizes this truth, they will acknowledge it regularly to God in prayer. Therefore, come to your Father, acknowledge that life is all about His will and His kingdom, and surrender to this truth. Jesus said, later on in this very same sermon, in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” When you put His kingdom first, all the other things in life fall into the right order and perspective. Fulfilling the purpose of His kingdom and will, must be your ultimate goal as a disciple of Christ!

4. Your daily provision and personal needs.  “Give us this day our daily bread”

The next aspect of prayer is to make your petitions to God for your daily personal needs. So, whatever the daily need is, for food, a job, strength for your day, or you fill in the blank ______. Ask God for these things. As you pray for your wants, desires, or needs, you must always make sure that you surrender them under His authority, kingdom, and will for your life. Your petitions must be in accordance with His holiness, and according to the timing of His love for you. Even Jesus prayed, “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). You must also remember what Jesus said about making your requests. He declared, “Your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matt. 6:8). Now you may be thinking, If the Lord knows everything I have need of before I ask Him, why does He want me asking Him for anything at all? Why doesn’t He just give to me what I need? The answer is very simple. First, Jesus commanded you to ask Him for your needs, which is the most obvious reason why you should ask. Later in this very sermon He will teach the disciples, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matt. 7:7-8). The second reason God wants you to ask of Him is so that you will acknowledge your need in humility. He wants you to always be in a place of dependence and trust toward Him to provide your needs. So, when you see His provision on your dinner table each night you will really mean it when you say, “Lord thank You for Your provision.” Remember that you could be living in Somalia or Sudan, where people are starving because of the corruption of these governments. So, are you really thankful, believing that God has provided for you? Third, not asking God for your daily needs is a sign of unbelief and self-sufficiency. The Apostle James taught, “We have not, because we ask not” (James 4:2). Therefore, you need to ask Him, and you need to keep on asking Him for your needs. Asking for your needs in prayer is an acknowledgment of your faith and humble dependence upon Him. In 1 Peter 5:6-7, the Apostle Peter taught, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” The phrase, “casting all your care upon Him,” clearly implies prayer. Therefore, are you daily casting your needs, your worries and cares upon Him, believing that He cares for you as your heavenly Father? Remember, believing prayer will always draw you near to Him! Don’t miss this communion time with Him each day!  

5. Forgiveness. “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”

Forgiveness is another essential aspect of prayer. Forgiveness is such a necessity because of our sin nature and wandering heart, and because of the conflicts with others that we all experience on a regular basis. Each of us needs to seek God’s forgiveness for our daily failures to love God and others, and because of our wandering and adulterous hearts (Jer. 14:10; Eze. 6:9). Granting others forgiveness is also one of our greatest struggles in life, because people regularly hurt and offend us. I have had more people talk to me about their struggle with forgiving someone who has offended them, hurt them, or talked about them behind their back than any other subject. This is a constant struggle for a child of God, because we live in a fallen world. Jesus made it clear that we must forgive just we want to be forgiven. He commanded us to pray, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” For Jesus, granting others forgiveness was an absolute necessity if we wanted to keep a right relationship with Him. Jesus said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14-15). These words are very clear! If you won’t forgive others, then you should not expect to be forgiven by God. Mutual forgiveness will be a vital part of your prayer life.

Sometimes people read this statement and think, Am I then earning His forgiveness by being obedient to forgive others? No, absolutely not! You cannot earn anything in God’s Kingdom. The Scriptures are emphatic about this fact from the Old Testament to the New Testament. All that I receive or experience with God is all by grace. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and you have found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Gen. 6:8). God’s grace is the only basis upon which you have a relationship with Him. If you would like to study this concept of grace throughout the Scripture, begin with these verses (Ex. 33:17; Ezr. 9:8; Ps. 84:11; Prov. 3:34; Zech. 4:6-7; John 1:16; Rom. 3:24; Rom. 11:6). It stands to reason then, if you have received the grace of His forgiveness, then He will also give you His grace to forgive others. The choice to forgive others is a natural fruit of God’s grace working inside of you. In Matthew 18:21-35, there is extensive instruction by Jesus on the subject of forgiveness. Remember, Peter asked Jesus about how many times he should forgive someone who offended him. Jesus responded by giving him a long parable to explain His answer. Jesus taught that there was a certain king who had a man who owed the him 10,000 talents, which in today’s money would be millions of dollars. This debtor came and said the king, “I don't have anything to pay you, will you forgive my debt. The king graciously did so just because he had been asked. Then the man who had been forgiven his great debt, went out and found another man who owed him a very small debt, and took the man by the throat and said, “Pay me all that you owe me.” That man also begged for forgiveness of his debt, but the man who had been forgiven refused to forgive the debt. Jesus then taught in Matthew 18:32-33, that the king called the debtor who he had forgiven and said to him, “You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” Jesus is obviously the king in this parable, and we are the debtors. Jesus established here that if you have been forgiven, then you must forgive. Don’t miss this truth! If you really see how greatly you have been forgiven, then you will forgive others. Notice that Jesus called this unforgiving man, a wicked servant. Unforgiveness is wickedness. It is great wickedness! Every one of us have been forgiven a debt that we could never pay! You then must do the same!

I know what some of you are thinking, I can’t do this. You don’t know what that person did to me. They don’t deserve to be forgiven. Yet remember, you did not deserve to be forgiven of your sins! I have found a simple way to soften my heart when it is hard like this, and when I don’t want to forgive. And yes, I have to say that I have been in this harden position many times! So, what did I do when my heart was unforgiving? I simply asked the Lord to just open my eyes to what He had forgiven me for throughout my life? If you will hear God’s voice at this moment, then this realization will break your hardened heart faster than anything else. If you have a hardened and unforgiving heart today as you are reading this study, obey Christ’s command, and choose to forgive. Jesus said, “If you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25). Note, this is a command; it’s not optional. Choose to forgive now! Ask the Lord to open your eyes to the incredible forgiveness that has come from Him, and your heart will soften.  

6. Temptation and the evil one.  “Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”

The sixth aspect in this model prayer is to ask for help with temptation, and for deliverance from the evil one. We all need to seek God’s help when temptation comes our way, because our hearts are so easily drawn away and enticed (James 1:14). We also need God’s deliverance from the evil one in our personal daily lives, because he is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). The first thing to note in this part of the prayer is that Jesus made a direct connection between temptation and the evil one. Why is that? It is very simple. Where ever there is temptation, Satan is also there at work tempting your fleshly nature to choose sin. Jesus declares that prayer is the way that you can be delivered from temptation, and all demonic activity.

A second question that people ask is, Why did Jesus say, “Lead us not into temptation.” Does God tempt His people and lead them into temptation? No, absolutely not! God will never tempt you to sin. The Scripture is clear on this fact. James taught, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone” (James. 1:13). That statement is very clear! But what did Jesus mean then when He said, “Lead us not into temptation?” This phrase is what is called a synonymous parallelism. A synonymous parallelism is something that you find quite often in the Old and New Testaments. These parallelisms declare a truth, and then in the very next statement, a similar or synonymous statement is made, which helps you to understand what that first statement meant (Prov. 19:5). Many of the Proverbs of Solomon are set up this way. You will see in the book of Proverbs synonymous parallelisms, antithetic parallelisms, and synthetic parallelisms. Antithetic parallelisms make a statement of truth, and then a contrasting or opposite truth, which helps you to interpret and understand the first statement (Prov. 13:1). Synthetic parallelisms have a progressive “staircase” movement, adding one thought to another, to bring you to a conclusion (Prov. 3:5-6).

Let me explain this concept of temptation and the evil one. What Jesus was declaring in this prayer are two similar truths. Jesus wanted us to pray that He would us in such a way that would keep us from getting into temptation. Lead us in such a way so we would not get into a place where we would be tempted by our fleshly nature, or the evil one. Compare this prayer with what James said on the subject of temptation. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (James 1:14). James was teaching that you are tempted when you are drawn away by your own desires. This is why most of the time our own hearts need to be led in the opposite direction from our desires. The Lord is the one we must surrender to, so He can lead us, which will also keep us from the traps of the evil one.

James also acknowledged the work of the evil one in temptation. You are drawn away and tempted by your own desires, but you are also, “enticed,” by Satan. This is the aspect of demonic influence in temptation. James addressed two issues here: your own fleshly desires, and the demonic influence that which is seeking to tempt and draw you away. Jesus was tempted by the devil, and so will you! Paul declared in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Therefore, you have a sin nature within you that is easily lead astray and tempted. You also have a demonic influence in this world that wants to destroy you, and it is constantly seeking to do just that! The evil one will lie to you, condemn you, and do everything and anything he can to entice you to depart from the Lord. That is reality.

Another way to understand what Jesus was teaching in this prayer is found in Psalm 141:4. There David prayed, “Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity.” The word incline is a Hebrew word that means, to cause or to bend toward. David was praying, “Lord keep my heart from following after wickedness, or wicked people.” That is exactly what Jesus was teaching his disciples to pray here in this sermon.

So how can you practically deal with this reality of temptation and the evil one each day? You must pray and deal with these two issues, your fleshly nature, and the demonic influence around you. Paul encouraged believers to, “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:11). Also, in Romans 8:13 Paul warned, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” This is how you deal with your fleshly nature. Reckon yourselves dead with Christ to the sin you desire, and by faith in the power of His Holy Spirit, allow Christ to make these old desires die within you. Then take authority over the wicked one, who is seeking to tempt you, lie to you, and condemn you. Declare in prayer and by faith, “I thank you for delivering me from the powers of darkness, and placing me in your kingdom, seating me in Christ which is far above all principalities and powers of demonic forces (Col. 1:13; Eph. 1:18-23). Now deliver me today from His schemes against me. I take authority over all the demonic powers who are seeking my destruction, in Jesus’ name” (Zech. 3:2; Luke 10:19). This is how Jesus wants us to pray. So, pray boldly and with confidence in His total victory that He has already won over all the supernatural powers of the enemy!

7. “Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever!”

The seventh and final principle in this model prayer is that Jesus finished with an acknowledgement of the Father’s sovereignty. It is His kingdom, power, and glory that we are seeking through every prayer that we pray. When we have this motivation, we are submitting ourselves to God’s ultimate sovereignty over us, and our kingdom. Therefore, focus your petitions based on what will be best for His kingdom, what can be done with His power, that His glory might be revealed and exalted. These must be your ultimate goals for every prayer you pray! In other words, if my petition doesn’t further His kingdom, reveal His power and glory, then please don’t answer this prayer. I don’t want it, because it won’t further His sovereign plan, or bring praise to His name. Prayers that do not have this ultimate motivation, will neither help His kingdom, nor satisfy me. God promised that He will not withhold any good thing from you (Ps. 84:11; Ps. 34:10). If He is withholding something from you, then you can be absolutely assured that it will not be good for you, or at least, not good for you at this time. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights (James 1:17). So be assured that this is God’s heart, and this is His desire for you (Luke 12:32). 

Some helpful hints for your prayer life.

Let me conclude this study with a couple of helpful hints that will assist you in becoming more effective in your prayer life. I have found these issues in my own prayer life to be extremely effective. These suggestions will facilitate you to stay on track, and to stay focused when you pray.

Discipline yourself to pray.

First, discipline yourself to a specific time every day when you can have a quiet time for prayer. If you don’t discipline yourself to a specific time to pray, you won’t do it, or you will only be shooting up quick spur of the moment prayers. There is nothing wrong with spur of the moment prayers, but God wants you to follow Christ’s example by getting by yourself to pray, for a specific period of time (Luke 6:12; Luke 9:28; Mark 14:32). If you don’t set time aside to pray, your day will always fill up with all kinds of things to do, and will crowd out time for extended prayer. Likewise, do you discipline yourself to a specific time when you read your Bible? If you don’t, then you will never do it. If you don’t set time aside each week to come to church, then you will miss out on the joy of corporate fellowship, worship, and the teaching of the Word. Taking the time for prayer, reading the Scripture, and going to church will only benefit you and build you up spiritually. Therefore, set aside a time to pray. We all have hectic days that require us to set our priorities. Is prayer a priority for you? When my wife and I had small children at home, I would drive to the park before work for a time to pray and read God’s Word. Why did I have to do this? Because there was no quiet place in our home, because of young children. You wives are probably thinking, What about me, I need some quiet time too. I agree! So, when the children take a nap, you must discipline yourself to take that moment as your quiet time in the Word and prayer. Or, when the children get a little older, and they are off at school, take this time. If you allow all the other things on your to do list to take the priority, then you will rarely do it. When you take a quiet time, turn off or silence your phone, and all other electronic devices. Give this time to the Lord, so you can hear His voice! 

Pray out loud.

Second, if you get distracted easily or fall asleep when you pray, then you need to pray out loud. I have personally found this to be very effective to keep my focus. I know what happens, you think to yourself, I will just lay down on this couch for a time of prayer. The next thing you know, you are fast asleep. Or, maybe you sit up to pray, but find your mind is thinking of the lists of things that you must do that day, or you just day dream. I know that experience too. This is why praying out loud is so effective, because it keeps your mind disciplined on the subject at hand. Your mind must follow what your lips are saying. You cannot day dream, if your lips are speaking about something else. You just can’t daydream and pray at the same time. So, try praying out loud and see what happens!

In addition, if you also day dream while you are reading your Bible, start reading out loud. Have you ever read an entire chapter in your Bible, and then think, What did I just read? This means you were day dreaming. If you read out loud, you would find that it is very effective in controlling your thoughts. Remember, your mind cannot go off into a day dream if your lips are reading His Word out loud. Reading out loud will absolutely help you to focus on what you are reading. It’s very effective.

Let me give you an interesting side note on this topic. I was reading a book on President Abraham Lincoln not too long ago. I read a statement from Lincoln’s law partner whose name was William Herndon. These two men shared an office together. One of the things Herndon said that really bothered him about Abraham Lincoln was that every day when Lincoln would come into the office, he would read his legal books out loud. Herndon said that it drove him crazy. He asked Lincoln why he did this. Lincoln replied that he read out loud, because it focused him on what he was reading so he could assimilate the material better. I hope you will try this technique yourself. I have personally found it to be very helpful. Now that I pray out loud, and read out loud, I just don’t get distracted or go to sleep anymore. 

Make a prayer list.

Third, if you want to stay on track while you are praying, make a list of the important issues you want to cover while you wait upon the Lord. Change this list often, so your prayers won’t become routine or repetitious. The principles that I have previously covered in Christ’s model prayer would be a good place to start. Begin by acknowledging your Father as your God and the sovereign authority over your life, and the fact that you trust His love for you, because you are His son or daughter (2 Cor. 1:3). Worship and acknowledge Him as holy, and cry out to Him to help you to pursue holiness (Heb. 12:14). Ask Him to keep His kingdom and His will as the supreme priority of your day (Acts 22:14). Trust Him for your provision, by acknowledging that He possesses all the gold and silver in this world, and the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 25:2; Hag. 2:8; Ps. 50:10). Ask Him to forgive you, and then make sure that you choose to forgive all those who have offended you (Matt. 6:12). Take authority over the prince of darkness, and your own flesh that would tempt you to disobey (Luke 10:9; Rom. 6:11). Surrender to His Spirit and ask Him to rule in your life. Then petition Him for those people who are in need that He brings to your mind (Luke 11:13; James 5:16). You can list issues or people you want to pray for, and the things that God has been speaking to you about in the Scripture. Putting these things on your list will make your prayer time very effective.

Be Thankful.

Fourth, make another list of the prayers that God has answered. This will keep you thankful, and will build your faith that God hears your prayers, and answers them. How can you remain thankful, if you can’t remember what you should be thankful for? Answered prayer is one of the most important issues you should be thanking Him for every day. In Philippians 4:6, encourages us, “Be anxious for nothing, but everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” As you remember how God has answered your prayers, you will be motivated to pray all the more!

Be persistent to come to Him.

Fifth, Jesus encouraged us to be persistent when we came to Him, which was to encourage us to pray often. In Luke 11:5-13 Jesus told a simple story to contrast the way we are, and how our heavenly Father is right now. He taught, “And He said to them, ‘Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. ‘So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” It is important to note that just before Jesus taught His disciples to persevere in prayer, He taught them the very same model prayer as He did in our text here in Matthew 6:9-15. His point in this simple story is something we can all understand. If you had a friend who came to you in the middle of the night who was in desperate need, but you didn’t really want to get out of bed to help him, but you would get up if your friend persisted and kept knocking on your door. We would give to this friend only because he was persistent. But Jesus was teaching that your Father in heaven was the exact opposite. He wants to give to you more than you could ever conceive. Jesus declared that our Father wants to give to us an abundance of His Spirit to overflow our lives. Why not then go and ask, seek, and knock on His door? These three verbs, ask, seek, and knock are all in the present tense, which means Jesus was declaring that He wants us to come continually to ask, seek, and knock at His door, and He will pour out a blessing upon us that we cannot contain. The Father wants us to be persistent to come, knowing that He does want to give, unlike the man in bed. In addition, He won’t give you a stone, if you ask for bread. If you ask for a fish, He won’t give you a serpent. In other words, He won’t give to you anything that will harm or hurt you. You are more than just a friend; you are His child! He wants to give good gifts to His children. Be persistent then to come, and come boldly to the throne of grace, and receive from Him His good gifts (Heb. 4:16)! He is waiting for you now!