Text: Matthew 6:9 NKJV

Further Reading: Matthew 6:5-9

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Matthew 6:9 NKJV

MESSAGE

Prayer is the way by which the believer talks with God and receives blessings from Him. When we read the Bible, it is God talking to us. Prayer, therefore, is God’s open cheque to ask anything from Him in Jesus’ name. Prayer is also a way to know God more, it is a relationship builder. The more we pray, the more intimate we get with Him.

While the Bible admonish us not to be anxious about anything, the Bible however told us to submit our requests to God in prayer. Jesus said to His disciples; Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
John 16:24 NKJV

God wants your joy to be full and it’s subject to you asking in prayer. This shows clearly that God always want to bless His children but many times the reason why we don’t receive is that we do not ask (James 4:2). When we ask, God will be gracious to supply. No wonder Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:7‭-‬8 NKJV

That process of asking is prayer. Though every religion prays and teaches prayer, but ours’ is different. It is fellowship between us and God. To us, prayer involves intimacy, we are not speaking to a God far away somewhere, No! We are talking with our Father.

When Jesus was teaching us how to pray, the first thing He showed us was that prayer is relationship based. We are like children asking a loving Father for all our needs. It’s reasonable that our earthly fathers do their best to give us the good things we desire. But Jesus showed that God is more willing to give even more to His children.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Matthew 7:11 NKJV

The first word in the Lord’s prayer starts with the phrase “Our Father”. It is so touching because I can call Him Father and He can call me His child. Praise the Lord! Is God also your Father? Only those who have received Jesus have been given the right to become God’s Children, even those who believed in His name. Amen (John 1:12). What a privilege to be called a child of God (1 John 3:1).

The Bible says that the petition of unrepentant sinners is an abomination to God. When a sinner prays, God cannot hear his prayer because there is no relationship. The only prayer a sinner will pray and attract the attention of God is that of repentance.

God’s ways are just, anyone who will pray and call Him Father genuinely must accept His Son, Jesus Christ. After which the Spirit of God will bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God. You have now been adopted into God’s family and you can boldly call Him Abba Father.

REFLECTION

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 NKJV

God is always willing to listen and answer our prayers when we seek Him with all hearts. Therefore, learn and give yourself to prayer.

PRAYER

Lay all your petitions before God if you are sure of your relationship with Him. Those who are not sure of their salvation should repent and receive Christ into their heart.