“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

PHILIPPIANS 4:6, 7

Christianity is more than a religion. It is first and foremost a relationship with God. Communication is foundational to good and growing relationships.

The primary way God communicates with us is through his written Word, the Bible. The primary way we communicate with God is through prayer.

HOW NOT TO PRAY

Do not pray like the hypocrites.

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.”

MATTHEW 6:5

Do not pray like the pagans.

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

MATTHEW 6:7, 8

HOW TO PRAY

Pray to the Father, not to the mother, saints, or angels.

“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.”

MATTHEW 6:6

Pray through Jesus. He is the only way to the Father.

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

1 TIMOTHY 2:5

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

JOHN 14:6

WHAT TO PRAY FOR

God’s will to be done . . . in your life, in your family, in your church, in your city, in your nation, in the whole earth.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

MATTHEW 6:10

Provision . . . personal and family needs to be met.

“Give us today our daily bread.”

MATTHEW 6:11

Forgiveness . . . receive forgiveness from God and forgive those who have offended you.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

MATTHEW 6:12

Victory over temptation . . . and protection from the devil’s schemes.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

MATTHEW 6:13

DOES GOD REALLY ANSWER PRAYER?

Absolutely! The more specific the prayers, the more specific the answers will be. The secret is to pray according to his will. We know his will by knowing his Word. Therefore, as we pray according to his Word, we know he will answer.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

1 JOHN 5:14, 15

Personal Application

Do you have a time and place for daily prayer?

Have you forgiven all who have sinned against you?

Begin praying for your “daily bread.”