Outline of prayer

Jesus start His teaching on prayer by telling us what prayer is not.

Matthew 6:5 :  "And when you pray, you shall not be like hypocrates.  For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward."  

Jesus is coming against the religious system that emphazised prayer but it was not true worship and really communion with God.  It's a relationship with God but for many it is a religious exercise to soothes their conscience  But it's not truely connecting with the Lord.  Don't change your voice or to an Elizabethan English when you pray or minister, that's religious. Just talk normal to God like He is a real person, get real with God.  The word hypocrate comes from the Greek word Hypokrites = behind a mask, to pretend to be a different person, an actor. "  The smile that you will get from people is the only reward that you will get, no connection with God.  It's all about your heart, 1 Samuel 1:7 : "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Proverbs 16:2 ; "all the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits."  God knows if you're putting up a show or not.

Matthew 6:6 : "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly".   This doesn't say that we shouldn't pray infront of others, Jesus prayed openly and publicly on the Cross in Luke 23:34 saying " Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do." and John 12:28 "Father, glorify Your name, Then a voice came from heaven, saying,"I have both glorified it nd will glorify it again." This is just saying that we should not be praying to get recognition from people or bragging rights. God is with you 24/7, you can pray and talk to Him constantly.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 ; "Pray without ceasing" , you ought to be in communion with the Lord at all time and don't count the hour and minutes.

Matthew 6:7 : "When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words."  Like using the rosary by repeating words, that's fear and not from your heart and not connecting you to God.  1 Cor 13:3 - if you give all your goods to feed the poor and give your body to be burned but not motivated by love, it profits you nothing.  The motive behind your action is more important than your action.  If you reciting the Lord's prayer and just spitting it out but your heart is full of fear, then the motive behind your words are more important that your words. Jesus was in a religious culture when He was here on earth and the religious Jews were hypocrates to the max praying on every corner and it's the same today with people.  The lenght of your prayer is not what's important, you're not better if you pray for an hour than others that pray for minutes.  "O Lord, help me" that's a great prayer. Jesus' prayers "be healed" and speak to the sea "be still" Mark 4:39 are short prayers. There are instances where Jesus spent all night in prayer Luke 6:12-13, Mark 1:35, Mark 6:46, Matt 14:23 but most of His prayers were short.  It's an error if you think that you will be heard more because you pray longer. Surely sometimes you pray for something spesifically and you will focus on that for an hour or more to the exclusion of everything else.

Jesus never said to pray this prayer but He said "when you pray" pray in this way, no where did He said to repeat the Lord's prayer word for word, this is a pattern on how to pray.  When Jesus died, everything changed when the curtain was torned Matt 27:51 - this means that now we could go to God directly through Jesus Christ His Son.  Hebrews tells us Jesus was the perfect High Priest, one time sacrifice.   When you pray, remember God loves you.

Matthew 6:8 : "therefore do not be like them.  For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Prayer is not an opportunity to inform God about your serious situation, God knows your situation.

Matthew 6:9-13 : "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name, Your kindom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glore forever. Amen"

We pray differently in the New Testament than in the Old Testament.  "Mark 7:13 : making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down." We have a lot of religious tradition and doctrines about prayer that is not compatible with Scripture and it voids the Word and makes your prayers ineffective. We should be praying for results.

The New Testament did not go into effect until after the death and resurrection of Jesus, and Jesus told us that in the New Covenant we are suppose to pray in His Name,  "John 16:23 : And in that day you will ask Me nothing.  Most assurdely, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you."  The Lord's prayer in Matt 6:9-13 is not a New Testament prayer, it's not in the Name of Jesus.  It is a model prayer that gives us the elements of prayer.  Just like in the Old Testament in "Psalm 100:4-5 : Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His Name. For the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting. And His truth endures to all generations."

Before you start with all your problems, start off with thanksgiving and praise. Instead of telling how terible your problem is you tell Him how awesome He is. Father God You are above all things. "Colossians 1:16-18 : For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, ... All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church (us)..."  Nothing is impossible for You Luke 1:37 "with God nothing will be impossible." I believe Your will is coming to pass.  Then you get the doctor's report, but I know if I would speak to this mountain it will be cast in the sea.  Then you won't speak all your fear and unbelieve.  Then you end with praise again. Philippians 2:9-11: "God also has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name, 10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and on the earth, and of those under the earth. 11. that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  Every name "cancer, leukemia, high blood pressure, anything that's got a name shall bow the knee bow".  You approach God in the manner Matt 6:9-13 but not the exact words and using Scriptures to build your faith. 

(So question, why then even ask and tell God is He already knows everything? What is the point of me praying?)

Through prayer we can be connected to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You can call at Him at any time. It has to be a priority in your life, Jesus was the Son of God and He spent long periods of time with God in prayer

Jesus went out and departed to a solitary place and He prayed there - Mark 1:35 "Now in the morning having risen a long while before daylight."  For quality time of prayer find a place without distractions, maybe your car or a closet.

Psalm 100:4, start your prayer with thanksgiving, bless Your Name, Lord I praise you