Jesus gave His disciples a simple example of how to pray. This prayer started with a focus on God, and He instructed them to ask for God’s will to be done. Then He told them to ask God for their daily needs and forgiveness for their sins. We can use this same pattern for our prayers. The same God who heard the disciples all those years ago hears us today!
[Jesus said,] “This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.'”
When Jesus taught His disciples this prayer, He didn’t mean they should always say those exact words every time they prayed. He gave them a pattern to help guide their prayers as they talked to God. You don’t have to use any specific words to talk with God. You can talk with God anywhere, anytime, and in any way!
Even though you don’t need to use the exact words of the Lord’s Prayer, it can be a helpful way to remember how to bring your thoughts to God. Spend some time this week to commit the words of the Lord’s Prayer to memory.
God, thank You for teaching us to pray, and for hearing us when we do. Amen.