Daily Prayer

Daily Prayer: What Jesus Said and Did
Jesus taught us the importance of daily prayer. He said, “Always pray, never lose heart” (Luke 18:1). He also said to converse with God day and night (Luke 18:7). When He taught His disciples to pray, He told them to ask God for their daily needs (Luke 11:3).

Jesus set an example of daily prayer by praying during all kinds of circumstances:

• He prayed at His baptism (John 3:21).
• He prayed as He faced His passion (Matthew 26:39) and on the cross (Matthew 27:46; Luke 23:34, 46).
• Jesus prayed while in agony, He prayed all the more earnestly (Luke 22:44).
• He prayed during sad times, like at the tomb of His friend Lazarus.
• He prayed all night before He chose His disciples (Luke 6:12).
• He prayed when He broke bread and gave it to others to eat (John 6:11).

Daily Prayer: What Else the Bible Says
The Bible tells us to pray on all occasions, making our requests known to God (Ephesians 6:18). Scripture tells us to pray without stopping (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It tells us never to worry about anything, and to thank God for what He has already provided (Philippians 4:6).

Jesus taught His followers to pray a simple daily prayer. You may know it by heart already as “The Lord’s Prayer,” but it will become more meaningful to you if you take time to think about what each phrase means. Then say it in your own words:

• “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.” At the beginning of your prayer, acknowledge that God is your Father. For example, you might pray, "God, thank You for loving me and adopting me as Your child, though I did nothing to deserve Your love."
  
  
• “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” These phrases are all about your desire to have God's ideals acted out here on earth. Ask God to show you what He wants done today and to give you the energy or courage to do it. Ask Him to show you any ways in which you might be unaware you are doing something that is less than His ideal and to help you change.
  
  
• “Give us this day our daily bread.” Ask God to provide for you physically today. Feel free to ask for other needs such as housing, clothing, a job, safety, etc. Get specific about what you need and thank Him for the ways He has provided in the past.
  
  
• “And forgive us our trespasses even as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Ask God to forgive you for those things you know you have done wrong. You may want to pray for God's help in conquering a sin that keeps recurring in your life. Ask God for His forgiveness and thank Him. Then, think about whether there is anyone in your life who you have not forgiven. Take a moment to mentally forgive others. Ask God to intervene in those areas of your life.
  
  
• “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” After praying for forgiveness, pray for protection from temptations and evil for self and family.
  
  
• “For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Amen.” Acknowledge that God has the power to answer your prayers and perform what He has promised.