Jesus Taught Us to Pray
1. Jesus Teaches Us to Pray with Sincerity
Before giving the model prayer, Jesus warns us not to pray for show or empty repetition:
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret…”
— Matthew 6:6, KJV
Prayer is not performance—it is relationship. Jesus invites us to seek God with honest, humble hearts.
2. Jesus Teaches Us to Pray with Purpose
The Lord’s Prayer is not just a prayer to memorize; it is a pattern for how to pray:
“After this manner therefore pray ye…”
— Matthew 6:9, KJV
Jesus shows us the elements of godly prayer:
A. Worship and Reverence
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
This reminds us to begin with praise—lifting up His holy name.
B. Submission to God’s Will
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done…”
Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s purposes, not the other way around.
C. Dependence for Daily Needs
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
We trust God for every provision—physical, emotional, and spiritual.
D. Confession and Forgiveness
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Jesus ties our walk with God to our willingness to forgive others.
E. Protection and Guidance
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
We lean on His strength, not our own.
F. Praise and Surrender
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.”
We end where we began—in worship.
3. Jesus Teaches Us to Pray with Faith
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
— Matthew 21:22, KJV
Prayer is effective when it is filled with trust—faith in God’s character, not our circumstances.
4. Jesus Teaches Us to Pray with Persistence
“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
— Luke 18:1, KJV
Jesus encourages us to keep praying—continually, faithfully, confidently—knowing that God hears.
5. Jesus Teaches Us to Pray in His Name
After His resurrection, Jesus gives His followers a new privilege:
“If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
— John 14:14, KJV
To pray in His name means to pray according to His will, His authority, and His righteousness—not our own.
Jesus did not leave us guessing about prayer—He gave us a model, a pattern, and a promise.
He calls us to pray with humility, sincerity, faith, and perseverance.
And most importantly, He invites us to draw near to the Father with confidence because He has made the way.
May our prayer lives reflect the heart of Christ, who prayed continually and taught us to do the same.