Page 4 - Christ Teaches Us How to Pray

Ask for the living faith of Jesus Christ to trust God totally – to know that His way and His law are right – and that He stands behind and backs up His will, His laws and His promises to those who serve Him.
8. What is the next petition of Jesus’ prayer outline? Matt 6:11. Can we ask this in confidence if we are seeking first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness? Verse 33, 1 John 3:22.
Although certainly not put first, this request is necessary. We can sincerely ask God to supply our daily needs as long as we are seeking first the spiritual things of God, such as keeping His commandments.
In your personal requests you can detail your needs and ask God to guide you to do your part. God knows of these needs even before we ask Him (Matt 6:8). However, He has not promised to automatically supply what we do not ask for.
9. Is our “daily bread” twofold? Matt 4:4. Who did Jesus say is the spiritual “bread of life”? John 6:35.
Come to God through daily prayer and drink in of Christ through daily Bible study, and He will supply your daily spiritual needs as well. You have as much need of daily spiritual food as physical food – and God promises you both, if you will ask Him and strive to learn of His ways.
10. Are we also to ask forgiveness of our sins? Matt 6:12 (“debts” should be translated sins).
All of us sin daily in one way or another. We need to sincerely recognize and repent of our daily sins, and then ask God to forgive us. Remember to ask that “our,” not my, sins be forgiven. Learn to be concerned for other spirit-begotten Christians and have godly love and compassion for them as well.
11. Should we also be forgiving toward others? Verses 12, 14-15.
Remember that we may ask God’s forgiveness as we are willing to forgive others. If one is unwilling to forsake feelings of bitterness, resentfulness or hatred towards others, then one must ask God to clean up and replace the spirit of hate with His spirit of love so that our prayers won’t be hindered.
An important attitude to have when we pray is that of humility, as illustrated in the parable recorded in Luke 18. Notice what Jesus said: “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed within himself in this way: God, I thank You that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice on the Sabbath, I give tithes of all that I possess. And standing afar off, the tax-collector would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but struck on his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner! I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14, Modern King James Version).
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