Pray like this: “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9 WEB

In his Sermon on the Mount, Christ teaches the faithful how to approach God in prayer. The Lord warns his listeners about hypocrisy, teaching that God only rewards sincerity. Therefore, he cautions against seeking the approval of other men with our deeds and prayers. Instead, Christ instructs the faithful to quietly do what is good without drawing attention to ourselves. In addition, the Lord teaches us to pray in an inner room, away from the public eye.

Saying, “pray like this,” Jesus gives us a model of how to pray but warns against repetitive prayers saying in Matthew 6:7, “In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. WEB” Instead, Jesus demonstrates the elements of effective prayer. 

First, Christ addresses God as “our Father in heaven.” This demonstrates the relationship we have with our Creator. He is our Father, and like any good father, God desires an ongoing, personal relationship with each of us. Also, this highlights the obedience required of us as children of God.  

God Is Holy

Further, the Lord reminds us of the holiness of God. As holy, God is pure and powerful, worthy of our reverence. When we approach our heavenly Father in prayer, we approach him in a humble, respectful manner. Prayer is not a repetitive behavior performed for religious reasons or to impress other people, but rather, it is a direct line of communication with the source of our life and supply.  

After acknowledging God’s greatness, Jeus teaches us to conform to the will of God in our petitions saying in Matthew 6:10, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. NIV” When we pray like this, we align our hearts and minds to  conform to the word and will of God. Doing so, we can count on our Father to reward our faithfulness, supplying our needs while guarding us against the wickedness of the world.

Yesterday’s Devotional: Jesus Wept