AFTER THIS MANNER – Matthew 6:9
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
With these words, Christ reveals to us the essential elements that need to be in our prayers. Christ had just admonished us that we are not to pray with vain repetition. This means that God does not want us reciting this prayer word for word for the simple fact that we have memorized the words. Christ is not teaching us words that we must memorize, Christ instead is showing us the elements that need to be in our prayers so that we know what God expects to hear when we pray.
The first element of prayer is praise. God loves to hear the praises of man. God created us in HIS own image. Just as you like to hear the praises of your fellow man when you do something good, so also, God desires to hear your praises for the good things that HE has done in your life.
The second element of prayer deals with the will of God. Our prayer every day should be that we are faithful in fulfilling the will of God for our life. By daily praying that the will of God will be done, this will cause you to seek the will of God and then give you the guidance that you need in how to direct your paths.
The third element of prayer deals with asking God to provide for our needs. Too often, we spend a large portion of our prayer time asking God to give us the things that we need. However, in this passage, Christ is making clear that our heart is not ready to ask God to provide our needs until we have first praised HIM for the things that HE has already done and we are seeking HIS will for our life. We really cannot know our needs until we first understand what HIS will is for our life.
The fourth element of prayer requires us to confess our sins. While you may not be a sinner who commits number every day. However, Christ told us that if we break the least of the commandments, we are guilty of breaking the entire law. If you understand the ways of God, you understand that even the smallest sin of a lack of faith makes you a lawbreaker in the eyes of God. Every sin comes between you and God creates a wall between you and God. Confession is necessary to remove that wall that is hindering your relationship with God.
The fifth element of prayer causes us to ask God for the strength to avoid temptation. When you became a Christian, you entered the army of God and Satan is constantly in a battle with you to cause you to sin and fall short of the glory of God. Rather than just react to results of your sin by confessing them after you commit them, Christ is warning us that we also need to spend the time praying for the strength to avoid the temptation to begin with.
The final element of prayer returns to praise. God desires that you understand the importance of praise. It is God who gives you life. It is God who directs, protects, and provides for you. It is important that you understand who God is and that you take the time to recognize God for HIS influence in your life.
Take the time to add knowledge of the ways of God to your life. When you study the commands of Christ, you understand what God expects you to do and you fill your arsenal with tools that are necessary to have a fruitful and effective Christian life.