Command 3: Pray

Here is Matthew 6:5-15 from the New International Version (NIV):

5 "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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 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. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 "This, then, is how you should pray:

"'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 today 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 the evil one.'

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with humble hearts, grateful for the gift of prayer and the privilege of communicating with You. Thank You for teaching us through Your Word how to pray in a way that honors You.

Lord, help us to understand and apply the lessons from this passage. Teach us to pray with sincerity, not for the approval of others but out of a genuine desire to connect with You. Remind us that You see our hearts and know our needs even before we ask.

Father, we thank You for the model of the Lord's Prayer. Help us to pray with reverence for Your holiness, submission to Your will, and trust in Your provision. Teach us to seek forgiveness and to extend that same forgiveness to others, knowing that our relationships with others reflect our relationship with You.

Lord, guard our hearts from pride, hypocrisy, and empty words. Draw us into deeper intimacy with You through prayer, and help us to rely on You daily for our physical and spiritual needs.

Thank You for Your faithfulness and for hearing our prayers. May our lives be a reflection of Your love and grace as we walk in obedience to Your Word.

In Jesus' name, we pray,

Amen.