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Jesus tells us how we should form our prayer-times…     (Pg.1)

Matthew 9-14… (ESV) Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. (10) Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread, (12) and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (14) For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…

Q1. How does Jesus suggest we should pray? (Check all that apply.)

☐ Give God praise.     ☐ List needs in order of priority.     ☐ Ask for His soon return.
☐ Acknowledge that God knows best.    ☐ Insist our needs be met.     ☐ List our good deeds.☐ Acknowledge that God is our Provider.     ☐ Bargain with God.     ☐ Ask God’s protection.

Other observations? ____________________________________________________________

— Studying this prayer we find deep truths taught by Jesus… (Here are some examples.)

Q2. Why does Jesus tell us to address God as, “Our Father who art in heaven”?

By teaching us to pray, “Our Father”… Jesus is teaching that when we pray we need to realize that we are addressing God who loves all mankind, and has allowed us to choose to become His children.
— Therefore we aren’t the only one God is concerned about, and our prayer life should reflect that. (We need to be praying for the needs of others as well as our own.)

See Galatians 4:6-7 (GNB)  To show that you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, “Father, my Father.” (7) So then, you are no longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give you all that he has for his children.

— Ephesians 1:3-5 (GNB)  Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. (4) Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love (5) God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and purpose.

*Note the plural forms of US and WE… As well as the personal YOU.*

Jesus is also teaching… The fact that because of Christ, God considers each of us His child, and we are allowed the boldness to come before His throne and make our requests, as a child would of his/her father.

Comments? ___________________________________________________________________

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 Jesus tells us how we should form our prayer-times…     (Pg.2)

Q3. (Vs.10) “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” 
There seem to be two requests named here, what are they? _____________________________________________________________________________

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Q4. Asking God to provide our “daily bread”… What does Vs.11 reveal?
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— I used to pray, “EACH day our daily bread”, but now I see this displayed a fact of our human nature to want to prepare ahead, when God gave the “Manna” it was meant only for each day.

Do you see the difference?_______________________________________________________

Q5. If we begin each new day by asking God for provision for the day, does that require us to daily exercise our faith in God as our Jehovah Jireh, God our provider?

Comments? ___________________________________________________________________

Q6. Jesus made note of the requirements of forgiveness… (Vs.12 & 14)
Comments? ___________________________________________________________________

Q7. Asking god to deliver us from evil… But why the request to NOT lead us into temptation?

*See also, James 1:12-15 ESV  Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (13) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. (14) But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. (15) Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

So then, how are we tempted? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

— This pattern for prayer is a good one to follow whenever we pray, for Jesus tells us to praise God and seek His will first, as we ask for needs, for forgiveness, and for deliverance from evil… We then should try to release all control and anxiety into God’s loving hands.

So, let us remember to trust Him (fully) when we pray… (KRK)