Prayer: Lead Us Not...

Jesus teaches us to pray to our Father and Shepherd that we would not be overcome by and succumb to temptation. Instead, we’re called to run to the Father as our Deliverer, as he is the only one who can deliver us and has delivered us in the person and work of Jesus. Now, as those in Christ, we’re called to depend on God daily for strength to overcome sin in our lives.

RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin; A Letter on Prayer by Tertullian; Pray Like This by Philip Graham Ryken;

Prayer: The Forgiven, Forgive

Jesus teaches us to pray to our heavenly Father for the forgiveness of our debts. In the Gospel, we can rest assured that our forgiveness is certain, and that God will also empower us to forgive others their debts against us.

RESOURCES: The Prayer of Jesus, Hank Hannegraaff; On Earth as it is in Heaven, Warren Weirsbe; Praying the Lord's Prayer, JI Packer; Romans 14:23 Article, John Piper; Lord's Prayer Sermons, Tim Keller

Prayer: Our Daily Bread

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus calls us to be dependent upon God as our Father and Provider for our daily needs.

RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; Sermon on the Mount Commentary by James Montgomery Boice; Pray Like This by Philip Graham Ryken

Prayer: Your Will Be Done

To authentically pray “your will be done,” we must deny ourselves and our own wills, submit to the authority and will of God, and place our faith in his character, power, and plan.

RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; Sermon on the Mount Commentary by James Montgomery Boice; Pray Like This by Philip Graham Ryken

Prayer: Your Kingdom Come

One of the callings we have as citizens of the Kingdom of heaven is to pray and embody the petition found in the Lord’s Prayer—“your kingdom come.” The first word of the petition reveals to us that God is our great King in his power, authority, and presence. What we desire when praying this petition is for his Kingship to be made visible and submitted to. We can pray in this way as we pray for ourselves, our church, our great commission, and our Lord’s return.

RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; The Lord’s Prayer by JI Packer; The Gospel Commission by Michael Horton; When You Pray by Philip Ryken; Systematic Theology by John Frame

Prayer: Hallowed Be Your Name

What should be our greatest desire and joy is expressed in this petition that Jesus teaches us. And that petition is that God’s name would be treated with honor and reverence and joy.

Prayer: Being With Your Father

Before we need to know how to pray, we need to know our God and Father we’re praying to. By his grace, he sent his Son to share all that he is with us, including his Sonship. Therefore, we are adopted into God’s family and get to approach him in prayer as his children.

RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; Alone Together by Sherry Turkle; Sermon on the Mount commentary by James Montgomery Boice; Praying the Lord’s Prayer by JI Packer; When You Pray by Philip Graham Ryken; A Praying Life by Paul Miller