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Chapter 10 of 18

Study One: The Model Prayer

Study One: The Model Prayer

STUDY ONE

The Model Prayer

Read Matthew 6:9–15

A thoughtful consideration of the words of the Lord’s Prayer will help us to put our minds in the right frame before we begin knocking on God’s door for guidance in some particular matter. This is the model prayer Jesus gave his disciples when they asked him to teach them to pray. It is all-inclusive and therefore furnishes the context for all prayers, including, “Lead me, Lord. Show me what to do.”

The Lord’s Prayer contains an address, a description, and six petitions.

The Address: Our Father

Key thought: If we trust the Son who died for us and come to the Father aware of our need of his grace, we may take our position before him as a child, not knowing what is best for us but coming and asking to be shown what to do. It is merely a request, not a demand, and can be granted or refused. Surely any father would look tenderly on a child’s desire to be shown what to do. Certainly God will show us.

  • Study Matthew 7:7–11. What does this passage tell you about God’s desire for you?
  • Read James 1:17. What does this mean?
  • How is God similar to an earthly father?
  • How is he different?

    • The Description: Who Art in Heaven

    Key thought: Our heavenly Father knows every inch of our earthly journey, sees it whole, and has been over the course himself.

  • What does Psalm 115:3 tell you about God?
  • Study Psalm 139:13–16. What does this passage say about the manner in which God plans your life?
  • How does this make you more confident of God’s guidance?

    • The First Petition: Hallowed Be Thy Name

    Key thought: God longs for his children to be actively involved with him through prayer. Because he loves us, he gives us a part to play in hallowing his name here on earth.

  • What does it mean to hallow?
  • What are some ways in which you can hallow God’s name here on earth?
  • According to John 4:23–24, how are you to worship God?
  • In what ways can you worship God in spirit and in truth?

    • The Second Petition: Thy Kingdom Come

    Key thought: As you lay your individual prayers before God, you do so recognizing that the answer has to fit into the coming of the kingdom and the holiness of the name.

  • Ephesians 1:20–23 describes the nature of the kingdom of Christ. What are some of the characteristics of this kingdom?
  • A king rules over his subjects. In what ways does God rule over you?

    • The Third Petition: Thy Will Be Done on Earth As It Is in Heaven

    Key thought: Jesus teaches us to pray for the coming of the kingdom in the only way the kingdom can possibly come: through the doing of the Father’s will. As we learn to live more intimately with him, it will become our sole object in life. In every act that accords with his will, we are also hallowing his name.

  • How would you define God’s will?
  • Read the account of Jesus praying in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36–42). What does this tell you about the importance of doing God’s will?
  • According to Romans 12:2, how do you determine the will of God?
  • What are some ways in which God is leading you to do his will in your life?

    • The Fourth Petition: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

    Key thought: The humble business of ordinary food and ordinary necessities reminds us of our utter dependence on God. To him nothing is trivial or important, nothing small or great, for he is all and fills all in all.

  • Study Matthew 6:25–34. How does trusting in God for your daily bread allow you to seek his kingdom more than anything else?
  • If God is concerned about everything in your life, when can you ask him for guidance?
  • List some things for which you sometimes forget to seek God’s guidance.

    • The Fifth Petition: Forgive Us Our Trespasses As We Forgive Those Who Trespass against Us

    Key thought: God must often delay the answer to our prayers for special guidance because we have already chosen a path of disobedience. When this happens, we must repent, which means to turn around. Go back to the point of departure. Then pray to be shown the path of God’s will.

  • What is a trespass?
  • Read Matthew 18:21–35. What does this passage say about the importance of forgiving others?

    What will happen if you don’t forgive others their trespasses?

  • Can you expect to receive God’s guidance if you don’t forgive others?
  • Sometimes the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer is stated as “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” How is debt an appropriate description of sin against God and other human beings?

    • The Sixth Petition: Lead Us Not into Temptation but Deliver Us from Evil

    Key thought: Temptation is not in itself a sin. Satan uses it to cause us to sin. God’s purpose in allowing it is to test our faith, and his Word even tells us to welcome it (James 1:2–3).

  • What does 1 Corinthians 10:13 say about temptation?

    What does James 1:12–15 say?

  • Why is God’s guidance especially important when you are under going temptation?

    • Applying God’s Truth to Your Life

  • Describe a situation in which you did not seek God’s guidance in your life. What was the end result?
  • List three areas of your life in which you would like to seek God’s guidance more consistently.
  • What is the most important lesson that you have learned from this study of the model prayer?

    • To Do This Week

    Commit to praying the Lord’s Prayer as a prayer for God’s guidance in your life. Each day focus on one of the petitions of this prayer and ask the Lord to show you how that petition can be applied to a specific problem or challenge you are facing.

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