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by Duane Huffstutler  
4/08/2012 / Prayers

Matt 6:9-13 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (KJV)

In the time that Jesus walked the earth it was very common for Jewish teachers to give prayers to their followers or disciples. Some of these prayers were very long and were broken down into short sections to help the disciples understand what is being said and others were not so long. This prayer is of the latter group not so long.
As we go through the task of praying we usually give the manner of prayer so little thought. We throw some words together and let it go. But when you stop and think about it the Lord of Glory, the King of Kings gave us this design of how he wants to be addressed. He showed us how to petition him and receive the answers that we need. But we think or maybe we don't think, but we do go about it as we have a better way of praying and do it our own way. But God laid it out in a specific pattern that so many of us pay no attention to. We just jump in there and do it our own way and when we do not receive an answer we just tell ourselves that God didn't think we needed that and forget all about that request. We never stop to think that maybe we didn't petition God in the way that he laid it out. I don't have the time to go through this in the depth that it needs to be addressed but let's take a brief look at it and I hope that you will take a deeper look at it at home.
"After this manner therefore pray ye:" What he is saying here if you want to address God do it this way and he will answer you. But first we must be in right standing with God; we must have been washed in the Blood of Jesus Christ and living the way that Jesus showed us to live. We can't be living the way of the world and expect God to run to us when we need something. The Bible states that the only prayer that God hears from a sinner is the prayer of repentance. Now that we have that out of the way let's go on. When a King draws up a petition as to how he wants to be addressed has every intention to fulfill the request, as does God if you make the request in the manner that the petition is laid out. How much respect and attention do we actually put into our prayers? If we will allow the Holy Spirit to guide us we will make it through to the throne of God.
"Our Father" Addressing God in this manner places us in the position of a little child. Jesus told us several times that we must come as a child. Starting our petition out in this manner shows the loving respect that we as his children have for God. It also shows that we have a confidence in God that he can and will do what we ask. How many times as we were growing up did we go to our dad asking him for something knowing that he could conquer the world if need be to get us what we needed.
"which art in heaven," This short phrase addresses the Majesty and Domain from which our God reigns. If he is in Heaven and can hear my prayer as one of billions of people on this earth: How truly powerful is he? He is omnipresent and omniscient. He is able to be everywhere at one time and can do anything that needs to be done. He lives in a place of pure Holiness and no sin or anything that even appears as sin will be allowed to enter.
"Hallowed be thy name." We must start out our prayers worshipping God. Just as there is a group of angels in heaven that constantly worship himHoly, Holy, Holy Lord God almighty God is Holy and pure therefore he alone is worthy of our praise. As we worship God it commands his attention. God does not allow any worship to him go without his attention.
"Thy kingdom come." We ask that God allow his kingdom to come and establish his rule and reign on this earth to get the evil and torment out of here.
"Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Get my will out of the way so that I can do what you want and forget about what I want. Only when I get my will out of the way can God do what he truly wants to accomplish. Only when we get our will out of the way can we truly see what God wants done and is doing around us. God will not over rule our free will, but when we give up our will for his he can do miracles all around us.
"Give us this day our daily bread." We ask him to give us the things that we need to survive in this life. Not the things that would make this a dream world full of easy living but what we need. God knows that we need food and clothes and if we will trust him he will make sure that we have these things.
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." This is a very dangerous statement. Forgive me just as I forgive that guy that took advantage of me or that trampled me in the ground in front of my boss. Forgive me just as I forgive those that steal from me or mistreat me or talk bad about me. Forgive me just as I forgive those that get me to do something then never pay me for what I do. If I don't forgive them or maybe I can't forgive them then don't forgive me.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:" In this path that you are taking me don't tempt me anymore than I can handle but with each temptation show me the way out. Help me so that I will be able to stay close to you.
"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory," When all is said and done praise and worship him again. Thank him for all that he has done in the past, the present and the future. Give him the praise that is due to him, due to He is Pure and Holy and Almighty and omnipresent. He is above all and worthy of all glory, honor and praise.
"Amen" And so be it. Let everything that I have asked be done as I have asked it. Let this petition that I have made to you be fulfilled in just the way that I have requested.
This prayer is a very powerful prayer not only in the words that are spoken but in the manner in which you need to pray. We must remember that it was designed by the king of Kings and Lord of Lords as a petition to address the King of all with our needs. If we will use this as a blueprint for our prayers and pray in unity with the spirit and each other then we will start seeing a lot more accomplished. Try it for a while and see what happens.

Duane L. Huffstutler, Written 2011, Faithwriters.com
Duane L. Huffstutler is the Sunday School Director at Oak Grove Pentecostal Ministries in Bonifay Florida. All scripture is from the King James Version (1611)

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