As disciples of Jesus and disciple-makers for Him, a healthy prayer life is essential for growth and fruitfullness. Jesus spent much of His time on earth going UP with His Father, and He often invited His first disciples to join Him. They quickly recognized that Jesus’ UP relationship with his Father through prayer was key to his fruitfulness in His ministry and relationships, so they asked Him if He would teach them to pray. The result of His teaching is what we now know as "The Lord's Prayer." 

 

Jesus told them, “When you pray, pray like this.” He did not give them several methods to choose from - He gave them one model to follow recorded in Matthew 6:9-13. The prayer has only six parts to it, but it covers everything Jesus taught us about Kingdom life:

 

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
This is where we recognize the intimate relationship we have with God who allows us to call Him, "Father." It's also a time to worship, magnify, and emphasize the CHARACTER of the holy God we serve.

 

Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 
This is where we take time to recognize that God is not just a king - but that He is the King of all Kings who rules over a KINGDOM.

 

Give us this day our daily bread.
This is where we ask for the Father's PROVISION for our own needs and for the needs of others.

 

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.    
This is where we recognize our desperate need for the Father's FORGIVENESS and the command on our lives to forgive others.

 

Lead us not into temptation.

This is where we pray for the Lord’s GUIDANCE in whatever trial we - or other believers - are facing. We are asking Him to give us strength not to fall into sin as we walk through our trials.

 

Deliver us from (the) evil (one).

This is where Jesus instructs us to remember that we have an enemy and to pray for the Father's PROTECTION.