Learn how to pray as Jesus taught in the Bible. Discover the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer and deepen your connection with God through guided steps.
Want to learn how to pray like Jesus taught His disciples? In this video, we break down the steps of the Lord’s Prayer, explain its meaning, and give practical tips for deepening your connection with God. Whether you’re new to faith or looking to strengthen your prayer life, these insights will help you pray with greater purpose and understanding. Subscribe for more faith-based videos and guides!
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When was the last time God surprised you with something really good?
What was it?
Was it something you looked for and searched for?
Did He simply drop it into your heart?
I’ve learned that the parable of the good seed scattered on the different soils is not just about the first time we heard about the good news…it’s about every time He speaks His word.
He’s always speaking but it’s up to us to break up the hard soil and throw out all the stones and rip out all the weeds so the seed that is sown can find good soil to take root and produce a harvest of 10, 50 or 100 times what was sown.
Stay curious, my friend.
There’s always more to learn about God and experience through Holy Spirit.
Can I pray?
One of the things I absolutely love about God is that he surprises me with truth I may have not known or that I might have completely forgot—at times I may not even be looking.
It happened again, not too long ago.
A few years ago I sensed God telling me to seek Him. I always want to follow that call. I’ve learned how I can seek Him changes at different times and different seasons. So I had to seek Him for how he wanted me to seek Him.
And I decided on a prayer rhythm that had 5 minute intervals for every moment I wanted to include in my time with Him. I may have overcomplicated it…but it works.
I felt his presence throughout my day. I moved things around and combined some and let some fall off and over several months I thought I had a pretty good system.
But I knew it was lacking something, I just couldn’t tell what it was.
Then I had a friend step up to lead a devotional for a team meeting. He’s a retired pastor who has deep wells to pull from, so he could do it on short notice. He decided to show us how he learned to pray.
As he spoke, the penny dropped.
So since he told me how he learned to pray, I reworked my prayer time to follow the rhythm and I was surprised how much of what I was doing fit. It was a different order, but I got most of everything in.
And oh, what an order.
My friend showed me how he uses the prayer rhythm Jesus His disciples to pray in his personal times and when He leads prayer groups. So let’s go to that now.
The Lord's Prayer
Matthew 6:5-15 (NIV) “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think 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. “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.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
It’s beautiful.
I thought I knew it. I’ve taught on it several times, but didn’t see how could so deeply impact my life.
I didn’t see it until my friend pointed it out.
I mean, this was one of the first portion of scriptures I memorized before I could read. I memorized in the King James version.
Matthew 6:9-13 KJV Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6 Parts of the Lord's Prayer
There are 6 parts of this prayer--the prayer I originally learned. I know it’s five in more modern translations.
But by the fourth century we have liturgies with the ending because they knew it was popular for prayers in first century Judea to end. “For your’s is the Kingdom, power and the glory for ever and ever Amen.” It’s the common doxology—statement of praise, usually at the end—that was said by Jewish people in the first century.
In the 12th century, it was included in manuscripts. The King James version used one of these manuscript—that was the earliest available at the time. Textus Receptus It has the doxology. Our newer translations use earlier manuscripts that don’t have it- like Codex Alexandrinus- that’s why it’s not in newer translations.
But I include it in my prayer rhythm because it leads to just an amazing rhythm of prayer to go from Adoration and end with Worship…and it is a wonderful flow.
Overview of How to Pray Like Jesus
Let me give you the overview.
Adoration - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name
Intercession - Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Petition - Give us today our daily bread
Alignment - Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us
Battle - And lead us not in temptation, but deliver us from evil
Worship - For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever Amen.
Let’s unpack that…
How to Pray Like Jesus Taught
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name
Pray Like Jesus - Adoration
We start with Adoration. We want to be more aware of His presence as we pray. God is always with us, how can we be with Him? The psalmist gave us the key the entering in with His presence.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4
I’ve learned the value of giving thanks to God with my whole heart. The whole heart is the seat of our decision, the seat of emotions and the seat of our actions. When we decide to give thanks, feel gratitude for what we he has done for us, it naturally leads us to praise Him for who he is. It’s how we show are appreciation for Him.
So I want to always give thanks and naturally give praise to Him. I have some tools and prayers to help on days when it doesn’t come naturally.
Pray Prompts
Be in Awe tool- https://revtrev.com/be-in-awe/
My Be Aware Prayer - https://revtrev.com/aware/
Give thanks with your Whole Heart Tool -https://revtrev.com/feel-gratitude/
I Will Praise You Lord with All Of My Heart Prayer - https://revtrev.com/i-will-praise/
Tip: Don’t leave this time until you’re more aware of His presence.
From Adoration we flow right into Intercession. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Pray like Jesus - Intercession
https://revtrev.com/intercession
Let me start with a verse that has revolutionized my prayer life. Paul tells Timothy:
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1
When I pray Intercession I pray from authority Matthew 28:18-19 I agree with God’s will for each person and situation. Pray God helps them. Intercede for them, and give thanks for them
A. Our Family
Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
Our family, extended family, all the kids and significant others and future spouse, by name and by need. I thank God for them. I ask God to help them and I intercede for them.
B. Who God puts on my heart
Colossians 1:9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
For friends, For workmate, For church, Anyone I complain about. I thank God for them. I ask God to help them and I intercede for them.
C. For our Country
1 Timothy 2:1-2 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
Nations Leaders - Our Country’s Leaders and Politicians representing me- Provincial Politicians representing me - City Politicians representing me I thank God for them. I ask God to help them and I intercede for them.
I have prayer prompts to pray in a more general way for people. I use these to jump into more specific prayers.
Pray Prompts
My Prayer For Family’s Future https://revtrev.com/family/
My Prayer for My Parents who are Aging https://revtrev.com/parents
My Prayer for My Future Grandkids https://revtrev.com/grandkids/
My Prayer for My Politicians https://revtrev.com/politicians/
TIP: Start with giving thanks for them by name, it makes a difference for how you intercede for people. 1 Timothy 2:1
From Intercession we go into petition: Give us today our daily bread
Petition
Our daily bread is what consumes our thoughts today.
If we pray intercession from Authority we pray petitions from Identity Matthew 7:9-11 You have a good Father who enjoys giving good gifts to his children. Because you have a good Father - Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6
If I have to work for it, I need to pray for it.
If I try to figure something out, I need to bring it to God.
If I need to find something, I ask my good Father for help.
If I’m lacking anything I need to ask Him for it.
Doing it with thanks opens me up to his leading.
How do you do that? Here what I’ve learned…
A. Remember to ask for
Psalm 32:8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
My Health, My Immediate Plans, Help me find, Help me finish, Help me know, Help Me Create, Help me figure out. I tell God what I need and thank Him for all He has done.
B. Commit my long Terms Plans
Psalms 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
Dream with God, Stay on track with what He’s prompted me to do I tell God what I need and thank Him for all He has done.
C. Commit my Commitments
Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
For my church, and my company and my work. I tell God what I need and thank Him for all He has done.
I have prayer prompts to help me petition my good father.
Pray Prompts
My Prayer of Agreement http://revtrev.link/agree
My Reflection on Healing http://revtrev.link/seegood
TIP: Keep track of answers to your prayers so you can thank Him for all He’s done.Philippians 4:6
From Petition we move into alignment: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us
Alignment
Prayer is the place we exchange our problems for His peace.
I know this works. I don’t think all of you know this story. I starts almost a year ago. I was waiting for Cardiac Ablation Surgery and we were just about to leave to go to New Zealand because our son was getting married and his and his soon-to-be wife were graduating from Vet school.
I got the call and was booked for the week before we were going to leave. I asked the nurse if that was going to a problem that I fly around the world a week after the procedure. “Oh” she said “We don’t want you having complications out-of-province”. And said she’d try to rebook it after I got back.
But that word “complications” I didn’t sit well with me.
I’ve had too many complications. I don’t need more complications.
So—it took me a few days to realize I was thinking about it so much—I eventually took it to God and poured out my complaint to Him. God doesn’t mind us pouring out what’s on our heart to Him—He knows us better than we know ourselves.
As I complained to God He brought to my memory the times I’ve had complications with my health and He showed me He was with me and that He helped me and that He was turning it out for good. I felt Him ask me if I would trust Him with any complication this time. I did. And I felt His peace. I exchanged my problems for His peace through prayer.
We had a bit of a complication.
The surgery went fine. I had to lie on my back and not sit up. The nurses found one hematoma that was starting to form, but they worked it out. I almost pasted out and threw up, but the gave me some drip and and orange juice and everything was good.
A few hours later, they were getting me ready to leave the ward and two nurses were changing the dressing on each side. The one on the right was done and left. The one on the left was holding pressure on a possible hematoma when he noticed I had sprung a leak. He asked Karen the leave, put pressure on the right side and called the other nurse back. She took over and pressed harder and I started to feel like I’d be sick or pass out. They put me back on a drip and gave me some orange juice again, so I started feeling better.
And I felt appreciation for this nurse. She was working overtime to make sure I could make it home as soon as I could. So I thanked her and told her I appreciate her. She had been holding pressure the whole time. She replied “You have far too much joy for the situation you’re in right now.”
She was right. I was lying in a pool of my own blood. I laughed and said, “I’m just glad it happened here and that you could help me rather than at home.”
It wasn’t a delusional laugh. I was at peace. I had His joy. I knew He was going to use this for His good. I had taken to time to exchange my problems for His peace.
Hopefully this won’t always take a whole lot of time for you, but it’s good to ask these questions and pause to let Holy Spirit lead you into all truth.
5 Short, Contemplative Prayers
to Exchange Your Problems for His Peace
Confess, Address, Lament, Repent, Forgive
Confess
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Agree with God
Question you can ask God:
If I’ve done anything to make you unhappy, please forgive me.
Pray Prompts
BE STILL and Know Tool https://revtrev.com/be-still/
Address
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Be still. Let Him show you.
Question you can ask God:
If I am holding on to some worry I haven’t released to you, show me where I’ve stopped trusting you.
Pray Prompts
CAST Your Cares Upon Him Tool https://revtrev.com/cast/
Lament
Psalm 56:3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
It’s OK to feel your feelings.
Question you can ask God:
If I am needing to trust You with emotions—that may scare me—show me.
Pray Prompts
100 Psalms of Laments organized by emotions https://revtrev.com/psalms
Repent
Acts 3:19-20 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord,
Change your mind and go in the opposite direction
Question you can ask God:
If I need to change an attitude or action—in your mercy—show me what I may be ignorant of or excusing.
Pray Prompts
TURN to repent tool https://revtrev.com/turn/
Forgive
Colossians 3:13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Forgive with your whole heart
Question you can ask God:
If there is anyone I hold anything against, help me forgive with my whole heart.
Pray Prompts
Forgive with your whole heart tool https://revtrev.com/forgive/
Tip: Do not leave this time of alignment without peace, hope or joy.
Because we’re aligned we can go into battles He has for us.
And lead us not in temptation, but deliver us from evil
Battle
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
We start by recognizing that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12
We need to put on the whole armour of God.
Ephesians 6:14-18 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Guess what you have been doing?
This whole prayer time has been about getting his truth fitted around you, and His righteousness firmly in place. You feet are fitted with the Gospel, because those people you’ve been praying for, giving thanks for and interceding for have made you more and more eager to share with, your shield of faith is stronger because you’ve exchanged your problems for His peace. You have the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit and if your intercession list is anywhere as long as mine you’ve been praying in the spirit when words have run out.
Peace is proof of your authority. Speak life not death. Agree with God’s will in each situation. Pray the expressed will of God in Scripture for each situation.
It’s time to do battle.
Pray Prompts
I Stand in The Gap for my Kids https://revtrev.com/gap/
Favour, Open Doors and Personal Spiritual Breakthrough https://revtrev.com/opendoor/
A prayer of breakthrough for health and healing https://revtrev.com/health/
A prayer for protection for my family https://revtrev.com/protect/
Tip: Don’t demand from God. Don’t magnify the enemy. Insist on God’s will being done.
Battle done God’s way naturally leads us back to Worship.
For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever Amen.
Worship
You start out becoming aware of His presence, you go into praying and interceding and giving thanks for the most important people in your life and everyone God has put on your heart, you’ve taken your own needs to Him and trusted Him as the good Father He is. You’ve aligned your heart with His heart and exchange your problems for His peace and then lifted up the battles His given you to fight. From there, the only way you can finish and remain in His presence is to go into worship, and you’re once again back in the place He’s created you to be in.
What is our natural response to the presence of God?
It’s Worship
Who I have in heaven but you?
When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, who am I that you think of me? Why do you care for me so much?
Yet you dance over me with singing and quiet me with your love. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Your name is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are saved. You are my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge.
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—more than all the sand on every beach on every ocean and every dune in every desert—and when I awake, I am still with you.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Go out with joy and be led forth in peace. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures for ever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Pray Prompts
Who Have I In Heaven, but You? https://revtrev.com/heaven
Tip: Come back whole circle to the presence of God.
Conclusion
What is your prayer time like? Do you make space to be with the One who formed you and said “very good?” Do you feel His pleasure on you and feel His power through you?
Do you plead and beg or do you worry about nothing, pray about everything with thanksgiving?
Do you pray at people or do you Ask God to help them. Intercede for them and give thanks for them?
If I could give you a taste for anything today I hope it’s the difference gratitude makes in our prayers.
Jesus has given us a pattern. And instead of reading through it like a pattern or discussing about the pattern…will you live out the pattern when you go to prayer by yourself and with others?
Can we stand and pray the Lord’s prayer in closing? It will be an antiphonal reading
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
We will enter your gates with thanksgiving and your courts with praise.
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
We will pray your blessing, intercede for others, and give thanks for them.
Give us today our daily bread.
We will worry about nothing, pray about everything, tell you what we need and thank you for all You’ve done.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
We will keep short accounts with You and others.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
We will stand firm with Your full armour and rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances for this is Your will for us.
For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen
We will stay Your presence and grow more and more aware of your presence. Thank you that you’re always with us, help us be with you.
Finish with closing blessing.
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24–26
Learn more at https://revtrev.com/our-father
