A Model prayer
There is no special secret to praying with regards to methods. If God is going to hear and answer you when you pray he will, because he knows all our needs and wants. But, what will it take for God to hear and answer our prayers, being that most of us pray only when we really need something. In fact, according to Pew research survey “More than half (55%) of Americans say they pray every day, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, while 21% say they pray weekly or monthly and 23% say they seldom or never pray. Even among those who are religiously unaffiliated, 20% say they pray daily. Women (64%) are more likely than men (46%) to pray every day. And Americans ages 65 and older are far more likely than adults under 30 to say they pray daily (65% vs. 41%)”. Prayer is the secret weapon of the believer. It is the weapon that requires the most of us, like denial, patience, concentration and consistency. The Psalmist said that he patiently waited on the Lord and he heard his cry (ps40:1). The apostle exhorts us to pray continually (Co4:2). The word pray is found 700 times in the bible.
Matthew 6:9-13
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
In Luke the bible tells us that Jesus was praying in a certain place with the disciples nearby, and once he finished one of them asked him to teach them how to pray. After the Lord’s prayer Jesus tells us that the same way that one serves a friend even in the after hours, God will answer our prayers (Lk11:9-10).By example Jesus always prayed by himself alone on a mountain and in this instance they heard how different he prayed then that of the religious. They heard the sweetness of prayer through the master’s lips. Let’s look at a model prayer from David in Psalms 35 “Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation” (35:1-3). And, what we see here is a prayer full of genuine conversation and a display of dependency. So, the disciples were intrigued when they heard the Lord pray. They must have heard a difference of how John’s disciples prayed and the Pharisee’s, that they found within themselves a deficiency in their prayer life. The fact is that most of us have a deficiency in our prayer life and that is why we do not pray; we do not know what to pray for.
Before the model prayer Jesus clears out the when and why to pray. First of all, prayer needs to take place in a secrete place, he says shut the door behind you when you pray. God is found in the secret places; in fact, they are his (Deut29:29). Daniel says that God is the one who reveals the secret and hidden things (Dan2:22). Next, our prayers do not need to be filled with repetition and long speeches. Paul outlines 4 components to an effective prayer; supplications, prayer, intercession and thanks giving to be made for all men (1Tim2:1). Finally, the model prayer, which was a set of seven petitions during our conversation with God. The religious prayer was just full of praises and acknowledgement of God and who he is only, but the model prayer included all the components. It is divided into two sections, the first is an attribute to who and where God is and his kingdom, and the second is directed to our needs and of those around us. The Lord’s prayer is known as a set of seven petition that are to be included in our prayer time.
I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Colossians 4:2
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Psalms 35:1-3
Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
Deuteronomy 29:29
29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Daniel 2:22
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
1 Timothy 2:1
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;