Jesus in Matthew 6: 9-13 tells us that this is how we should pray:

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’
Matthew 6:9‭-‬13 NIV

Let’s look at this more closely:

Step 1: Adoration

“Hallowed be your name”

The first line of this prayer is profound. The word “hallowed” means made holy, consecrated, or greatly revered and honoured. His name is holy. In fact, all of His names are holy.

We can enter into prayer through worship by revering His name. By calling upon Him by name, we recognize and honour Him for who He is.

Step 2: Consecration

“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done”

After entering into worship, we should consecrate our body, soul, and spirit to the Father. This is when we wholly surrender ourselves to God’s will.

Step 3: Supplication

“Give us today our daily bread”

Supplication is when we express our immediate needs to God. Though He already knows, this is the part where we acknowledge our need for Him and ask Him to provide the specific things we need in order for us help in moving the Kingdom forward.

Step 4 : Intercession

“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”

Intercession is when we stand before God on behalf of someone else. We must go before God with clean hands and a pure heart, so asking for forgiveness for our sins is essential.

Seeking and extending forgiveness is a powerful thing. Acknowledging our sins before the Father and seeking forgiveness on behalf of ourselves and others brings a freedom that can’t be described. It’s nearly impossible to hold on to unforgiveness toward someone when you’re asking for mercy on their behalf.

Step 5: Protection

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”

The struggles and temptations we face on a daily basis are real. Satan even tried to tempt Jesus Himself (Mark 4:1-11). We aren’t exempt from these daily trials, but we can seek God’s protection through prayer and the full armour of God (Ephesians 6).

Let’s be thankful that our Heavenly Father has given us the freedom to communicate with Him through prayer and that He always answers our prayers.
Erick Bouwmeester
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