The 6 P's of Prayer

On my last blog post, I wrote about the essentials of prayer in the Christian's life. This week I will discuss how we should pray. We are all familiar with the Lord's prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. This is a wonderful guideline to how we should pray. The Lord begins the chapter by telling us how we should not pray to be seen but, that when we pray, we should enter the throne room in secret. In other words,  prayer is intimate between you and God. It's where you expose matters of your heart. However, there is a method in doing so. 

Preparation/Mental Alignment 

Prayer is a way of communicating to God, but it is also a way for God to communicate to us. Verse 8 says that God already knows what we have need of before we even ask Him.

Praise

So, because God alone is holy, we enter His courts acknowledging and honoring Him with praise because He alone is worthy of our praise (v9). "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."

Power 

As we enter before the throne seated with Christ, we enter under His submission and with authority in Christ (vs 10). "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

Petition/ Provision

Ask boldly for what you have need of. God seeks to provide for you and meet your needs daily "Give us this day our daily bread" (vs11). He loves and cares for you. Remember, He gave his only son to die for you, so that you could live in Him."

Penitence/ Pardon

Verse 12 "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Forgiveness is for you! We must forgive others if we want God's forgiveness. Once we do this, we may repent from sin within our own hearts.

Protection

Verse 13 "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and power, and glory, forever. Amen." God can take care of us much better than we can take care of ourselves. 

Perhaps, this is why it's been said that worry is really a sin for a Christian. Acknowledging Him as the Protector  allows Him to be our Savior and Deliverer from evil, harm, and danger that we may not even be aware of.  Finally, we close in prayer acknowledging God as Majesty...kingdom, power, and glory forever. In His Son Jesus' name Amen! 

There is nothing God cannot do except fail. Trust Him. Love Him. Obey Him. Honor Him.

I love you all, but God loves you more!