When I was a child, I prayed to God. Later in life, I found out that Jesus was my Lord and Savior, and being confused, began praying to God and Jesus. Still later, I learned a little about the Holy Spirits’ role in the God head and rather than leave anyone out, I prayed to all of them, still not completely sure of what I was ‘supposed’ to be doing. Then I got back to basics, and believed that if the word of God said it… it is good enough for me. I went back to the example prayer that Jesus taught his disciples:
Mat 6:9: After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven,
This is WHO you are to pray to, your heavenly Father. He is the most loving of fathers; kind, gentle, friendly, interested in your life and, wants to hear all about it. He wants to hear how you feel, everything… your joys and frustrations, even all your secrets that you cannot tell anyone else. He has all the time that there is, enjoys your confidence and trust in him and enjoys just listening to the voice of his little child.
Hallowed be thy name.
This where you praise and worship God. I praise you, I worship you God!; I love and adore you! … Just tell God how much you love him. Thank him for a11 he has done for you and your family, and all that you have asked for that has not yet manifested itself, (regardless of what it looks or feels like).
10: Thy kingdom come.
This is where you ask for the rapid fulfillment of the kingdom of God. That is to say, the return of Jesus to this earth to finally and totally, remove the bondages and yokes that satan has placed on the people of this world. This is a good place to pray for others, either specifically or in general, that are in bondage or are yoked in some way. This can be the poor, the lame, the blind, the sick at heart, the addicted, those with illnesses, be they physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. Pray for their deliverance, and for Gods’ kingdom to come quickly to put a final end to the suffering.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
This is where you ask Gods’ will do be done, in YOUR life, just as sure as His will is done in heaven. I give myself to You God, mind, body, spirit and soul! I want Your will to be done, in my life, over and above my own will, because I know that You know what is best for me.
11: Give us this day our daily bread.
This is where we ask for our needs to be met.
The daily bread includes, the bread of life, the word of God and like the manna given daily to the Israelites in the wilderness, the word you heard yesterday, will not keep till today. You need to “consistently” keep the word of God coming into your ears. (Yes, I said ears. Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.).
This is also where we ask for anything else. I use Mark 11: 22-24 as a guide. Mark 11:24: Therefore I say unto you, What things soever, (anything! ), ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, (believe in your heart that you already, received them), and ye shall have them’ Another way to think about this is, to believe that God has made a deposit in your account, and all you have to do is make a withdrawal.
Oh, oh. Here is the hard part…
12: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
This is where you FORGIVE any and all persons that have sinned against you. If you are having a problem doing this for one reason or another, it will help if you will separate the person’s actions, from the person, his or her self. It is right to be angry, and perhaps even hate, the actions of a person. But, the person you have to love. Jesus commanded that we love one another. That person that hurt you: 1. Is a child of God, just like you, (even if they don’t act like it); 2. God loves them, just like he loves you, (regardless of sins); and 3. Has the potential to repent, make changes in their life and to become a born again Christian too! It would be good for you to forgive them by name.
Once you have done this, Now you can ask God to forgive you. “Father, as I have
just forgiven those that have sinned against me, forgive these, my sins… (here, you need to
confess any and all sins to Him)…. and Father, please also forgive the sins of my family.”
13: And lead us not into temptation,
This is where you ask God to Lead you, (and your family), away from the temptations of this world…
but, deliver us from evil:
This is where you ask God to deliver and protect you, (and your family), from all evil, darkness and that evil one, satan the devil.
For: thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
This is where you acknowledge God as your source. “I come to you as my source Father, because the kingdom and all of its’ benefits are yours!; All the power in heaven and earth is yours!; and all the glory is yours, Father, and will be for ever!”
This is where you close, and acknowledge, by what authority you have so boldly approached the mercy seat, the very throne of the living God…you came in the name of Jesus, His son, your Lord and Savior. (John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.) “I ask this all, in the name of Jesus”…
Amen.
This is where you sign the contract, so to speak. ‘AMEN’, means: I agree to this, or, I put my name to this, or I said all of this and I mean every word of it. Words are important to God, and they should be important to us, (Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned).