THE PRAYER THAT shaped all the others

Learning to pray is like learning anything new—it’s much easier with a teacher or guide.

Jesus wanted to equip His followers to pray. The “Lord’s Prayer” that He taught isn’t a mantra to chant, but the Teacher’s guidance for His people. It is a prayer model to help us speak with God.

The key to prayer is the very beginning, “Our Father.” We don’t come to God as strangers hoping for a bit of kindness; we come as His children, confident in his love. Our prayers are shaped by our focus on God and His kingdom rather than us and our little kingdoms. We can—and should—ask God for everything we need. We can even ask Him for things we desire; He loves to bless His children. But ultimately, it’s His will that is the best thing for us and those we love.

Jesus’ prayer model includes praise, submission, confession, asking for guidance and seeking to imitate God’s own heart of forgiveness. They are all big things for little people to demand of an awesome God; yet they are perfectly natural things for children to seek from their Dad.

Let Jesus’ prayer model guide your prayers; you can speak openly and seek anything from your Father in heaven.