Prayer,
talking with God.

Welcome to Day 5, today we will explore prayer and its importance. If you live in America, you probably heard the phrase "communication is key". It is no different within our relationship with God. It's imperative that we take hold of one of the most important tools that we have in building our relationship with God. Prayer can best be summarized as communication with God, and it should be a very familiar practice in your life. So let's start to understand the concept of prayer through scripture.

How do we pray?

Prayer is simply talking to God, just like you would talk or communicate with any human on earth. The difference is that He is God, but He is our Father, and we are his sons and daughters, so we should approach Him within that mindset. I would dare to say that there is no special formula or structure to prayer. It's not as if you say a prayer a certain way, God will hear you better, but I would tell you that James 5:16 says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." So if you are in Christ and are truly devoted to Him, I believe he hears us.

A part of Jesus's earthly ministry was to set an example for us, and He does this for us in many aspects, including prayer. I don't think there is a better example for us to learn prayer from than Jesus himself. The book of Matthew provides us with great insight into this concept.

So, what are a few things that we learn from Matthew 6?

1. God As Father

   "Our Father in heaven." It's important to acknowledge God as Father and to know He is not some far off being, distant from His creation, but a personal God who knows you by name. To recognize Him as Father also means we can trust Him and understand that His love for us is real. He desires to restore, protect, provide for, forgive, encourage, and love us well.

   Matthew 6:9
2. Honor God

   "Hallowed be your name." Hallow means to make or declare holy, meaning we should approach God with honor and reverence, understanding His Lordship in our lives. This is a sign of respect and honor.

   Matthew 6:9
3. Prioritizing God's Will

   "Your kingdom come." This acknowledges God's will as a priority in your life. This redirects you away from yourself and back toward His plans and purposes for your life. Imagine waking up each morning, praying the Lord's Prayer, and aligning your mind and heart to prioritize His will above your own. This is a sign of a truly surrendered life.

   Matthew 6:10
4. Gratitude & Thankfulness For His Provisions

   "Give us today our daily bread." This acknowledges that God is our provider and that everything that gives life comes from Him. Having an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness honors God and helps us place our trust in His ability rather than our own.

   Matthew 6:11
5. Repentance & To Walk With No Offense

   "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." This reminds us to acknowledge and repent of the sin in our lives. Remember, unconfessed sin separates us and creates distance in our relationship with God. The second part of this verse reminds us that people will sin against us at times. We must be prepared for it, choosing not to walk in offense but to be quick to forgive those who have sinned against us. I think it's important to note that if sexual, physical, or emotional abuse has occurred, forgiveness doesn't mean acting as if nothing happened. Forgiving someone in your heart does not mean you stay silent. You can forgive and still take the right steps to handle what happened. In some cases this will be a process to work through, and I strongly believe the Lord understands that and sees you.

   Matthew 6:12
6. See The Schemes Of The Enemy

   "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." This simply acknowledges that the enemy will come at us in various ways. It helps us understand and recognize his schemes. We need God's assistance through the Holy Spirit to combat attacks from satan and keep our sinful nature in check. Remember, it is Christ who is victorious and will help us overcome!

   Matthew 6:13

How Do We End A Prayer?

The most common phrases to end a prayer are: "In Jesus' Name" or "Amen" (which means to agree or affirm). Again, this is just a suggestion, but we have come up with these phrases because of verses like John 14:13-14 and Ephesians 3:21.

Who Do We Pray To? (Father, Son, Or Spirit)

We will learn more about the Trinity in Week 2, but because God is three in one, you can address anyone of the three depending on the nature of your prayer. I truly believe it gets to God, no matter whom we address, but most commonly we hear the term "God," "Lord," or "Father" to start a prayer, and that is because of Matthew 6:9.

Group Prayer

When you pray in a group, don't worry about impressing anyone around you. God is not concerned with the elegance of how you pray; He is focused on your heart's attention. Matthew 6:7

Communication Is A Two Way Street

I would like to encourage you as you talk with God, take time to reflect on what God might be saying back to you. As you grow in your faith, the spirit of God communicates to us all the time; we just have to tune in to hear the voice of God. God speaks through scripture, in our thoughts, with internal impressions, and through our brothers and sisters in Christ.

• Prayer Journaling

  This is writing down your prayers to help you focus, reflect, and see how God answers over time.

• Prayer Walk

  You can walk and talk to God. You do not always need to be sitting down. Some people find this helpful because it removes them from distractions and interruptions.

• Prayer Space

  Find a quiet room or area where you are free from interruptions and distractions.

• Worship Music

  I personally do this often when I pray. I find worship music, or music without words, to help me focus during my prayer time with God.

• Silence Your Phone

  Simply put your phone on silent or focus mode to avoid distractions.