05/24/21 SEVEN ESSENTIALS OF PRAYER #1 — (adapted from the booklet by Tom Ward)

Scripture — Matthew 6:8-13 (ESV) The Lord’s Prayer (or Model Prayer)

Jesus Christ is the Master-Teacher of prayer. Here He taught us seven essential ingredients of true prayer.

Essential #1—AN EXPECTANT ATTITUDE

Matthew 6:8 (ESV) Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Christ gives two admonitions here concerning our attitude before God when we come to Him in prayer, one negative and one positive.

1.   We are NOT to pray like a hypocrite (actor, pretender). Two qualities God cannot stand: They pray to be “seen by others” (v.6) and they use “empty phrases” (v.7). Their prayers are empty and full of words with no LIFE. There is much rhetoric, but there is no communication with the throne room of God.

2.   God KNOWS our needs before we ask… Our attitude before we pray is of vital import. We must come to God realizing that it is His desire to grant our request (see Mat.7:7; 21:22; Isa.65:24; Heb.4:14-16;). We must develop the mind set that our Father in Heaven is more than willing and “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Eph.3:20 ESV).