Often times I wonder why it is that Christians, including myself, do not spend quality time in prayer. One reason that we do not spend quality time in prayer is because we do not know how to spend quality time in prayer. Let’s see how Jesus teaches us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13:

Pray then like this:

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 also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

In this prayer Jesus teaches us how to pray. Let us look closely at His first three petitions and model our prayers after His.

Father, I appeal to You to make Your name hallowed – to make Your name known and considered holy by all peoples. Father, help me to be an accurate representation of Your holiness in my home, church and community. Help our church to be a beacon of light that fervently seeks to make Your named hallowed to the community and to the nations.

Father, I ask that Your Kingdom would come. I ask that You would incline my heart to value Your Kingdom and Your glory and to give my life to make it known. Help the people of our church be actively participating in proclaiming the gospel to lost people and helping fellow believers pursue personal holiness.

Father, I am constantly distracted with the busyness of my own life. I am guilty of spending the majority of my conversation with You asking You to help “my will be done.” Father, help me to desire Your will be done. Help our church to value Your agenda over our own.