Matthew 6:9-13. 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.”
If someone does not know the gospel, they should not expect to receive answers to prayer. Without knowing that Jesus is the Christ, one cannot see the kingdom of God, and therefore cannot truly seek it. Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
What is the kingdom of God? It is the reign and rule of God—the very heart of the gospel. Without an understanding of this kingdom, one cannot experience “all these things” that are promised within it. Jesus taught us to pray for the kingdom of God to come everywhere. When we proclaim the mystery of Christ in our mission fields, the kingdom of God will surely come there.
This is essential because the whole world lies under the control of the evil one, Satan (1 John 5:19). The disasters in this world stem from one root cause: spiritual ignorance. If we do not proclaim the One who came to destroy the power of Satan, sin, and hell, people will remain in darkness and suffer under the dominion of Satan. That is why we must never stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ—every day, and in every place (Acts 5:42).
Jesus also taught us to seek the will of God first: “Your will be done.” When we lay down our hidden motives and selfish desires, we will see God’s answers to our prayer. As Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Jesus did not associate Himself with those whose hearts were filled with selfish motives. After a miraculous sign, the people said, “He must be the Prophet who is coming into the world.” But Jesus, knowing they intended to make Him king by force, withdrew to the hills by Himself (John 6:14–15).
Therefore, we must pray for what God desires—not for what we want—to be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. The purpose of our prayer is to discover His pleasing and perfect will, for His kingdom to come, and for His name to be made known throughout the world.
When we pray, we must entrust ourselves to God for our daily needs. Jesus said, “Give us today our daily bread,” and reminded us not to worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” Those are the concerns of those who do not know God. Our heavenly Father knows that we need all these things (Matthew 6:31–32). Renew your trust in your Father, who deeply cares for you. Make Him Lord over every area of your life.
Scripture declares that you are the most blessed person on earth. Because of what Christ has done on the cross, all your sins have been forgiven. Jesus, our True Priest, has set you free from the bondage of sin and death—original sin (Romans 3:23), generational sin (Exodus 20:4–5), and the actual sins we’ve committed (Romans 14:23). Through the blood of Jesus Christ, God finds no fault in you. He remembers your sins no more (Isaiah 43:25), and has removed them as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). In His great compassion, God has trampled your sins underfoot and cast them into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19).
No one can condemn you anymore. Do not be deceived by the enemy, the devil. Enjoy your freedom in Christ and carry this good news to others who are trapped in guilt and shame. You have been forgiven—so forgive others: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
When facing temptation, recognize the true nature of the battle. “Lead us not into temptation.” Our struggle is not against people. When unexpected problems arise, don’t blame others or your circumstances. Instead, ask God to open your eyes to the spiritual reality and help you discover His perfect plan in all things.
Your heavenly Father will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. He will always provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). If you respond to temptation with prayer and thanksgiving, the peace of God will guard your heart and mind (Philippians 4:6–7). Do not be surprised by what happened to you: troubles, conflicts, and crises. Stand firm on God’s covenant of world evangelization, and He will advance the gospel through all this.
Most importantly, be aware of your enemy. Though our True King Jesus crushed his head, Satan is still at work, leading the whole world astray (Revelation 12:9). He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Only the name of Jesus has the power to overcome the devil’s schemes. Without relying on Christ’s authority in prayer, we have no chance against the evil one. So we pray, “Deliver us from the evil one.”
We must be careful not to seek our own interests or glory. As Scripture reminds us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). When we pray with selfish motives, aiming for our own recognition, we lose the greater reward: “They have already received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:5). God will not allow His name to be dishonored, nor will He share His glory with another (Isaiah 48:11). Everything we are and everything we have is purely by His grace.
For His is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for teaching me what to pray for. So I will stop worrying and start seeking Your kingdom and Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.