Teach Us How To Pray

A lot of teaching has been done on the Lord's Prayer, probably because it's the clearest example in scripture for how to pray. There are a lot of instructions scattered throughout the Bible about prayer, (pray without ceasing, when you pray go into your closet etc.) but the most obvious and clear teaching that I can find is when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray.

In those days it was customary for a rabbi to give his followers a short, concise prayer that they could pray daily. This is what the disciples were asking for when they said, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." Many traditional churches recite this prayer regularly, some do it every time they meet together.

Many contemporary churches teach that the prayer is to be used as an outline. For example, "Begin your prayer with an acknowledgment of who God is, and His attributes, and focus on His will. Then bring your petitions to Him, and end with praise."

The Lords prayer is found in two places in the Bible, the first in Matthew, where Jesus says, "When you pray, pray like this...", And the second is in Luke where Jesus says, "When you pray, say..."

I believe that this means we're supposed to do both: Pray the exact prayer, and use it as an outline.

I invite you to pray this with me:

Our Father in heaven
Hallowed be Your name. 
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done 
On earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. 
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. 
Amen