Matthew 6:7-15
In Matthew 6:7, Jesus cautioned against meaningless repetition while talking with the Father. Two verses later, He left a pattern to help us pray. And we’ll find our prayer life transformed when we carefully examine Christ’s words. The pattern includes:
Adoration of the Father (v. 9). God should be the focus of all our prayers. We should never forget what a privilege it is to bend our knees and speak to the Almighty in heaven.
Submission to His will (v. 10). Prayer should reflect a desire to align ourselves with God’s goals and purposes.
Petition God for our needs (v. 11). We are dependent upon the Lord, and He wants us to come to Him with our requests.
Confession of sins (v. 12). When we repent and forgive others, we maintain fellowship with God. But if we hold grudges, that fellowship is broken.
Deliverance from evil (v. 13). Our enemy often challenges us, but Christ has already won the victory over him.
Jesus ended His prayer where He began—with praise to the Father for His kingdom, power, and glory (v. 13). Next time you say this prayer, concentrate on each verse. Following this pattern will result in a more effective prayer life because it will be God-centered.
Bible in One Year: 1 Timothy 1-3
