It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John (the Baptizer) also taught his disciples.” ~Luke 11:1

“And when you pray, do not use meaningless repetition (for show) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them (praying as they do); for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. ~Matthew 6:7-8

For everyone who exalts himself (who sees himself as better than others) will be humbled (before others), and he who habitually humbles himself (keeps a realistic self-view) will be exalted (respected by others).” ~Luke 14:11

So now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant (Solomon who became king at a young age) king in place of David my father; and as for me, I am but a little boy (in wisdom and experience); I do not know how to go out or come in (that is, how to conduct business as a king). ~1 Kings 3:7 Young King Solomon humbled himself before God. He knew that he did not have what it took to manage and rule a kingdom without God’s wisdom and favor. We are no less at His mercy in the management of our own lives.

God knows everything about us as He always has. He knows all of our weaknesses and needs, all of our sorrows and pain, all of our sins and all of our enemies. So why do we need to pray? He wants a relationship with you. He wants to hear about your life every day, because He loves to hear from you like a little child (Matthew 18:4) running to the arms of the loving Father that He is, asking for everything that we need.

He wants you to be sincere and open with Him, not worried about what other people might think about you. Most of your prayer life should be private, between you and Him (Matthew 6:5-6). He also wants to teach you how to listen to His voice so that He can help (John 15:26-27) you live with peace in your heart, unafraid and free, and to avoid the dangerous traps of Satan which are meant to destroy you. He wants you to ask Him to show you how to manage your life and He will (Matthew 7:7-12, Jeremiah 33:3).

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ~Matthew 6:9

Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name. ~Psalm 100:4 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth! You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens. ~Psalm 8:1

This first part of the prayer is all about recognizing the All Mighty Creator of the Universe for Who He Is! In church language, we call this “praise.” Sing, play musical instruments, dance, (Psalm 150) walk, run, cook, eat, drink, raise your children, make art, etc. everything you do, all for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). Praise is about more than singing a few songs. It is about living life to help others see Him in you.

O give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the people. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonderful acts and devoutly praise them. ~Psalm 105:1-2 (read this whole Psalm also)

Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. ~Matthew 6:10

Now to Him who is able to (carry out His purpose and) do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think (infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams), according to His power that is at work within us, ~Ephesians 3:20

Praying for God’s will is not always easy because often, it means we have to let go of our own will for His will. It means getting out of our comfort zone and turning our goals on establishing His kingdom instead of our own. What is sometimes difficult to understand is that His will is the best of the best for us. This involves developing trust which goes way beyond our own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

‘Give us this day our daily bread. ~Matthew 6:11

He knows we have needs, He wants to provide for us. He also wants us to specifically ask, so that when He answers and meets our needs that we will recognize (Proverbs 3:6) where the blessings are coming from, but not to worry or fear, because our focus needs to be on living for His kingdom (Luke 12:22-32).

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come in abundance to you, so that you may always (under all circumstances, regardless of the need) have complete sufficiency in everything (He meets your needs and gives you abilities), and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity. ~2 Corinthians 9:8

‘And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors. ~Matthew 6:12

Ask Him for forgiveness for things we have done wrong. If we (freely) admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises), and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness (our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose). ~1 John 1:9

Forgive others, self and even enemies so that we can intercede for others (pray on their behalf) more efficiently (Luke 6:27-36). Resentment is a heavy burden. Forgiveness is for our own benefit causing healing in our own hearts as well as our bodies even when it is not accepted from others. Interceding for others is more powerful than we realize even when we do not see results.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor (perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding) and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice (all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence). Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted (compassionate, understanding), forgiving one another (readily and freely), just as God in Christ also forgave you. ~Ephesians 4:31-32

‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ ~Matthew 6:13

We know that Satan intends to steal our blessings from us, kill and destroy us. He uses our weaknesses against us and puts temptation in front of our faces. Life is full if temptations. To be tempted is not a sin. It is when we continue to allow our selves to think about the sin that we are more likely to act on it and to get ourselves into trouble. But we have the ultimate weapons against evil and sin which is the armor of God. In conclusion, be strong in the Lord (draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him) and in the power of His (boundless) might. Put on the full armor of God (for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier), so that you may be able to (successfully) stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. ~Ephesians 6:10-11

We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, ~2 Corinthians 10:5 And the peace of God (that peace which reassures the heart, that peace) which transcends all understanding, (that peace which) stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (is yours). Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things (center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart). ~Philippians 4:7-8

(For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.) ~Matthew 6:13

The last line was added later, but is scriptural in that it is yet, a reminder, about praise for Him and living for His kingdom.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega (the Beginning and the End),” says the Lord God, “Who is (existing forever) and Who was (continually existing in the past) and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all).” ~Revelation 1:8