USING THE LORD'S PRAYER AS A PATTERN FOR PRAYING

 Overview

 To use the Lord's Prayer as a pattern, go through each petition, focusing on a different aspect of God's nature, your needs, or the world. Begin by praising God for His holiness, then submit to His will, ask for His kingdom and provision, seek forgiveness for yourself and others, and finally request protection.Don't feel pressured to pray for hours; even a few minutes on each point is meaningful, and you can journal to stay focused or rotate focus on different sections daily.  

If you are not familiar with what the Lord’s Prayer says, here it is as contained in the Gospel of Matthew 6:5-14.

The Lord's Prayer

⁵ “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

⁷ “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread,
¹² and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.

¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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1. Praise & Relationship: 

• "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name": Begin by focusing on God's character, glory, and majesty. Thank Him for His love and His work in your life and the church.

2. Submission to God's Will: 

• "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done": Offer your life for God's purposes and surrender your life to align with His will. Ask for His kingdom and the fulfillment of His will to be seen on earth.

3. Provision for Daily Needs: 

• "Give us this day our daily bread": Make specific, intentional requests for your physical needs, work, energy, and resources for the day ahead.

4. Forgiveness & Reconciliation: 

• "And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us": Seek God's forgiveness and also pray for those who have wronged you, whether they recognize their need for forgiveness or not.

5. Protection & Deliverance: 

• "And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil": Ask God to help you and others endure difficult times and protect against all that is evil.

General Tips for Using the Pattern:

• Start Small: Don't feel you have to pray for hours; even a few minutes on each petition is meaningful. 
• Personalize: Add specific prayer points that are relevant to your life and circumstances. 
• Be Detailed: Be specific in your requests, especially for your daily needs and for protection. 
• Journal It: Writing down your thoughts can help you stay focused and track your prayer journey. 
• Pray with Others: Use the model in group settings to help ensure a well-rounded prayer time. 
• Rotate Focus: Choose a different section to focus on and expand upon each day.