praying effectively: Pray Like This... (Mt.6, 26, Mk.14, Lk.11)

(Matthew 6:9-13)  “Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

(Luke 11:2-4)  And 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 ‘And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

(Matthew 26:41)  “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we are to pray, and Jesus gives us some guidelines as to how to do that effectively (Mt.6:9 Lk.11:2)
- that in our prayers, we acknowledge God's attributes and who He is (Mt.6:9, 13, Lk.11:2)
- that in our prayers, we claim our desire for God's will to be done and not our own will (Mt.6:10, Lk.11:2)
- that in our prayers, we ask God for our necessary provisions (Mt.6:11, Lk.11:3)
- that in our prayers, we confess our sins (Mt.6:12, Lk.11:4)
- that in our prayers, we ask God to help us forgive those who have sinned against us (Mt.6:12, Lk.11:4)
- that in our prayers, we ask God for protection and help for us to avoid sin and temptation (Mt.6:13, Lk.11:4)
- that we keep watch and pray that we do not enter into temptation (Mt.26:41, Mk.14:38)

Today's prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for being a holy and righteous God who loves and cares for us.  Thank You for protecting us and guiding us towards being more like You.  Help us follow Your example.  Help us desire to pray in Your will.

Thank You for generously providing for our needs and that we can confidently depend on You.  Help us continuously seek reconciliation with You and with others.  Thank You that we can and should go to You for anything and everything, because You want us to.  Amen.