Prayer

Jesus considered a time when He had finished praying and one of His disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” And so, Jesus taught the crowd about prayer.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners in order to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not babble on like the pagans, for they think that because of their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

“So then, this is how you should pray: 

‘Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name. Let Your kingdom come, let 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 also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ 

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.”

(See Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-4)

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