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Chapter 7—How to Pray
“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they
love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so
that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received
their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut
the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father
who sees you in secret will reward you. When you are praying, do
not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that
they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them,
for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray
then in this way: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom 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
also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of
trial, but rescue us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive others their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do
not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:5-15
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God is constantly speaking to us through nature, through Scrip-
ture, and through His many providential interactions. But that is not
enough to keep us in a close relationship with Him. We also need to
talk to Him. Prayer is opening our hearts to God just as we do with
a friend. Prayer doesn’t bring God down to us; it lifts us up to Him.
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When Jesus lived here on earth, He taught His disciples how to
pray. He told them to tell God about their needs and to share with
Him their trials and difficulties. Jesus spoke from experience. All
that He endured from day to day, surrounded by sin, He shared with
His Father. That’s how He found comfort and strength to carry on.
If Jesus felt that need to pray regularly, constantly, how much more
we need to do so as well
Never be reluctant to pray, for prayer is the key in the hand of
faith to unlock heaven’s treasure house. Without regular prayer we
are in danger of growing careless and losing our way.
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