Learning To Pray
DAY 3
Learning to Pray
Read Matthew 6:9-13.
How do you feel about praying? Do you find talking to God an easy, natural thing to do? Or do you feel hesitant and awkward when you try to pray, especially when you’re asked to pray aloud?
Read the following statements and choose any that reflect what you think or feel when you try to pray.
I’m afraid I’ll say something to God that I shouldn’t or ask Him for something I shouldn’t.
Often I don’t know where to start or what to pray about.
I’m afraid I’ll embarrass myself because I can’t pray a beautiful, fancy prayer like other people.
You don’t have a problem talking to your closest friend, do you? How do you feel about talking to that friend? List some benefits and blessings of being able to talk to a close, trusted friend. Also list some feelings you have about having a friend like that.
When Jesus’ followers asked Him to teach them how to pray, He gave them a model to follow. We often call that model the Lord’s Prayer. Your Scripture reading for today records that prayer. If you haven’t already read the passage, do so now. Find Matthew in your Bible’s table of contents or try opening your Bible one fourth of the way from the back.
How did Jesus say we should address God when we pray? Record the word here.
How would you feel about talking to your father if he were not only your best friend but also the most perfect father in all the world? God is your Father—a perfect Father who dearly loves you and would do anything in the world for you that’s for your good, your happiness, and your well-being. You can talk to Him freely and openly. He knows all about you and loves you just as you are. He’s eager for you to talk with Him just as a child would talk with a perfect, loving, caring father. He doesn’t expect you to use fancy phrases or eloquent speech. He just wants you to be you and talk to Him from your heart.
Jesus also taught His followers the kinds of topics they should pray about. These aren’t all the things we’ll ever want to pray about, but the list of topics is a good beginning.
The topics Jesus prayed about are listed on the left side of the following chart. Open your Bible to Matthew 6:9-13 and copy the Model Prayer on the right side of the chart, matching each phrase or sentence with one of the topics on the left. Begin with the words “Our Father.”
Topics in the Model Prayer The Model Prayer
Addressing God properly
Showing respect for God’s name
Committing ourselves and all on earth to God’s plan
Asking God to provide for our needs (not our wants)
Asking God for forgiveness
Asking God for protection
Declaring God’s rule over us to be our greatest desire
Ending our prayer properly
Use the following outline to check your work. You should have matched each topic with all or part of the verse marked beside the topic in the outline.
• Addressing God properly (verse 9)
• Showing respect for God’s name (verse 9)
• Committing ourselves and all on earth to God’s plans (verse 10)
• Asking God to provide for our needs (not our wants; verse 11)
• Asking God for protection (verse 13)
• Declaring God’s rule over us to be our greatest wish (verse 13)
• Ending our prayer properly (verse 13)
Does Matthew 6:9-13 seem more clear to you now that you’ve matched what it says with topics in the outline? You can see from this outline that any one of the topics could become a prayer all by itself. At different times you’ll feel a need to pray more specifically about one of these topics than some of the others.
The best way to learn to pray is to pray.
In a moment I’m going to ask you to conclude today’s study by praying. First I want you to collect your thoughts and decide what you want to talk to God about this time. Let’s use the Model Prayer as a guide.
What will you say to God to show how much you respect and honor Him?
What part of your life and your world do you need to commit to God’s control today
Do you need to ask for God’s forgiveness? For what?
Where do you need God’s protection in your life today?
What can you say and do to recognize God’s rule over your life today?
Now use the plan you’ve outlined to conclude your study with prayer.
Learning to Pray
Read Matthew 6:9-13.
How do you feel about praying? Do you find talking to God an easy, natural thing to do? Or do you feel hesitant and awkward when you try to pray, especially when you’re asked to pray aloud?
Read the following statements and choose any that reflect what you think or feel when you try to pray.
I’m afraid I’ll say something to God that I shouldn’t or ask Him for something I shouldn’t.
Often I don’t know where to start or what to pray about.
I’m afraid I’ll embarrass myself because I can’t pray a beautiful, fancy prayer like other people.
You don’t have a problem talking to your closest friend, do you? How do you feel about talking to that friend? List some benefits and blessings of being able to talk to a close, trusted friend. Also list some feelings you have about having a friend like that.
When Jesus’ followers asked Him to teach them how to pray, He gave them a model to follow. We often call that model the Lord’s Prayer. Your Scripture reading for today records that prayer. If you haven’t already read the passage, do so now. Find Matthew in your Bible’s table of contents or try opening your Bible one fourth of the way from the back.
How did Jesus say we should address God when we pray? Record the word here.
How would you feel about talking to your father if he were not only your best friend but also the most perfect father in all the world? God is your Father—a perfect Father who dearly loves you and would do anything in the world for you that’s for your good, your happiness, and your well-being. You can talk to Him freely and openly. He knows all about you and loves you just as you are. He’s eager for you to talk with Him just as a child would talk with a perfect, loving, caring father. He doesn’t expect you to use fancy phrases or eloquent speech. He just wants you to be you and talk to Him from your heart.
Jesus also taught His followers the kinds of topics they should pray about. These aren’t all the things we’ll ever want to pray about, but the list of topics is a good beginning.
The topics Jesus prayed about are listed on the left side of the following chart. Open your Bible to Matthew 6:9-13 and copy the Model Prayer on the right side of the chart, matching each phrase or sentence with one of the topics on the left. Begin with the words “Our Father.”
Topics in the Model Prayer The Model Prayer
Addressing God properly
Showing respect for God’s name
Committing ourselves and all on earth to God’s plan
Asking God to provide for our needs (not our wants)
Asking God for forgiveness
Asking God for protection
Declaring God’s rule over us to be our greatest desire
Ending our prayer properly
Use the following outline to check your work. You should have matched each topic with all or part of the verse marked beside the topic in the outline.
• Addressing God properly (verse 9)
• Showing respect for God’s name (verse 9)
• Committing ourselves and all on earth to God’s plans (verse 10)
• Asking God to provide for our needs (not our wants; verse 11)
• Asking God for protection (verse 13)
• Declaring God’s rule over us to be our greatest wish (verse 13)
• Ending our prayer properly (verse 13)
Does Matthew 6:9-13 seem more clear to you now that you’ve matched what it says with topics in the outline? You can see from this outline that any one of the topics could become a prayer all by itself. At different times you’ll feel a need to pray more specifically about one of these topics than some of the others.
The best way to learn to pray is to pray.
In a moment I’m going to ask you to conclude today’s study by praying. First I want you to collect your thoughts and decide what you want to talk to God about this time. Let’s use the Model Prayer as a guide.
What will you say to God to show how much you respect and honor Him?
What part of your life and your world do you need to commit to God’s control today
Do you need to ask for God’s forgiveness? For what?
Where do you need God’s protection in your life today?
What can you say and do to recognize God’s rule over your life today?
Now use the plan you’ve outlined to conclude your study with prayer.