How To Pray

<p>Put simply, prayer is <strong>communicating with God as you would with a friend</strong>. God doesn't require us to come to Him with large words or fancy language. He longs to hear what our heart desires, our worries and what we're thankful for. Prayer satisfies our deepest spiritual desires and longings.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><em>Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.</em></p> <p> </p> <p>Many people misunderstand the Lord’s Prayer to be a prayer we are supposed to recite word for word. Some people treat the Lord’s Prayer as a magic formula, as if the words themselves have some specific power or influence with God.</p> <p> </p> <p>The Bible teaches the opposite. God is far more interested in our hearts when we pray than He is in our words. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (<a href= "https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matt%206.6-7">Matthew 6:6-7</a>). In prayer, we are to pour out our hearts to God (<a href= "https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Phil%204.6-7">Philippians 4:6-7</a>), not simply recite memorized words to God.</p> <p> </p> <p>The Lord’s Prayer should be understood as an example, a pattern, of how to pray. It gives us the “ingredients” that should go into prayer. Here is how it breaks down. “Our Father in heaven” is teaching us whom to address our prayers to—the Father. “Hallowed be your name” is telling us to worship God, and to praise Him for who He is. The phrase “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is a reminder to us that we are to pray for God’s plan in our lives and the world,