In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name

In This Manner, Pray
Michael E. Brooks @ www.forthright.net

“In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, 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 forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV).

Prayer seems to be a feature of all religions, regardless of what else they may or may not have in common. Nearly everyone who professes faith in a deity has some method of communication whereby needs and wants may be expressed.

Muslim prayers are offered at set times as indicated by the broadcast prayer calls (five times each day).  Devout Muslims prepare themselves, kneel on dedicated prayer rugs facing toward Mecca, and prostrate themselves as they chant memorized ritualistic prayers.

Hindus and Buddhists write many of their prayers on wheels or flags which then are released to their gods when the wheel rotates or the flag flutters in the breeze. Since those prayers are often written in classical Sanskrit rather than the languages of the people, it is probable that many of those praying do not actually know what it is that they are requesting or professing to their gods.

The method and characteristics of prayer are of significance. When Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) he was critical of the long, repetitious, but insincere prayers of the religious leaders of the Jewish people. In contrast he commanded the people to pray in a different manner. What are the distinctive characteristics of acceptable prayer to “the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9)?

First, it must be sincere. Christians are commanded to pray like we mean it (James 1:6). In Matthew 6 Jesus condemned the Pharisees’ good deeds, prayers, and fastings, because all were being done “before men, to be seen by them” (verse 1). Memorizing and repeating a few words as a ritual for particular times is not of itself genuine prayer. There must be intent and purpose from the heart.

Second, prayer may be short and simple. One does not have to pray for long periods in order to be heard by God. Yes, Jesus once spent all night in prayer (Luke 6:12) and long prayers may be needed and acceptable.
However, length alone does not make a good prayer. The model prayer found in Matthew 6 required only a few seconds to recite, yet encapsulated what the Lord considered necessary to spiritual communication with God.

Third, prayer should regularly include certain components, among which are praise (“hallowed be your name”), petitions for others (“your will be done on earth”); petitions for our own material needs (“give us this day our daily bread”); and petitions for our own spiritual needs (“forgive us our debts”). Additional elements of prayer may be found in the many other passages which treat the subject.

Note that there is no mention of posture, dress, directional orientation, or other physical requirements in our prayers. Christians are encouraged to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) but not a certain number of times per day. Paul mentions “lifting up holy hands” in prayer (1 Timothy 2:8). However, the acceptable prayer of the tax collector in Jesus’ parable was given “without so much as rais[ing] his eyes to heaven” (Luke 18:13).

Christian prayers are not about ritual, form, or quality of speech. They are sincere faithful communications between weak and mortal humans and the God who made us. Let us pray “in this manner.”

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