A Model Prayer
Posted by Karah
Pause
Spend five minutes sitting before God in silence. Focus on all the ways that God has blessed your life and thank Him for those blessings.
Imagine what it would be like if you were invited to speak to a great king or important authority figure. Would you know what to say? Would you know the proper protocol? Wouldn’t you be glad if someone, who knew the king well, could coach you in what to say? Record a few thoughts in your journal.
Jesus did exactly that when He modeled for believers how to talk to God. As you read Matthew 6:9-15 in your Bible, focus on what this prayer teaches you about who God is and the kind of relationship He wants to have with you.
“Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”—Matthew 6:9-10
Examine Jesus’ prayer and consider what it teaches about God’s character. Under the headings below, jot down which parts of the prayer teach you about those topics. Then, journal a few reasons you know those statements are true.
He is trustworthy.
He provides for me.
He wants me to be honest.
I must submit to Him.
Respond
In your journal, write out a prayer using Jesus’ model:
-Acknowledge God for who He is, expressing your trust in and submission to Him.
-Pray about your needs and requests. This isn’t a time to tell God what to do, but to ask Him to work in your life and trust Him to do so.
-Repent and confess any sin.
-End by once again praising God and resting in His authority and goodness.
-For further study of prayer, read Jesus’ prayer for believers in John 17.
Behind the Story
Some of the phrases in the Model Prayer can be a little confusing. Let these explanations deepen your understanding.
–“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven“ Acknowledges the sovereignty to God
–“Give us our daily bread” Asking God for what we need daily and trusting He will provide it.
–“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” Confessing our sins to God and forgiving those who have hurt us.
The Point
Christians will pray in a way that reflects their trust in God as the One who knows best and will fulfill their needs.
Posted in Devotions, Girls | Tagged Camp Crestridge for Girls, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions