Lord’s Prayer to the Model Prayer

Many people believe this is simply a prayer to recite.

 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” Luke 11:1-4

”Lord, teach us to pray.”  

Alfred Lord Tennyson, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”

Prayer sustains society more than any other factor.

Prayer is strenuous and frustrating

Prayer is mentally and physically demanding.

They didn’t ask Jesus how to preach or teach, but how to pray

When we pray, we receive the gift of God Himself-Prayer is communion with God.

Prayer is an act of submission to God

God’s answers are wiser than our prayers.

This model prayer to be a life-changing experience.

There is no magic in a prayer. 

Jesus discourages us to "not keep babbling like pagans who think they will be heard because of their repetitive prayers" (Mt 6:7). 

C.S. Lewis confessed that he was grateful God hadn’t given him everything he wanted: "I don’t know where I’d be if I’d gotten all I asked for!" 

Prayer may not change our situation, but it will change us in our situation.

If our request is wrong, God says "No." If our timing is wrong, God says "Slow". If we are wrong, God says "Grow", and if our request is right, our timing is right, and we are right, God (usually) says “Go!"

Praying the model prayer is a risky prayer:

I cannot say "our" if I’m living only for myself.

I cannot say "Father" if I don’t try to act like His child.

I cannot say "Who art in Heaven" if I am laying up no treasure there.

I cannot say "hallowed be Thy Name" if I am not striving for holiness.

I cannot say "Thy Kingdom come" if I’m not doing my part to hasten that day.

I cannot say "Thy will be done" if I am disobedient to His word.

I cannot say "in earth as it is in Heaven" if I’m unwilling to serve Him here and now.

I cannot say "give us this day our daily bread" if I’m not relying on Him to provide.

I cannot say "forgive us our debts" if I harbor a grudge against someone.

I cannot say "lead us not into temptation" if I deliberately place myself in its path.

I cannot say "deliver us from evil" if I haven’t put on the whole armor of God.

I cannot say "Thine is the Kingdom" If I am not loyal to the King as His faithful subject.

I cannot attribute to Him "the power" if I fear what people may do.

I cannot ascribe to Him "the glory" if I am seeking honor only for myself.

Our level of Christian commitment is gauged by the character of our prayer-life.