"Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples"" (Luke 11:1 NKJV).

Jesus begins to teach the disciples about prayer. Jesus said: ""And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. 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. {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. {7} "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. {8} "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him" (Mat 6:5-8 NKJV).

Jesus gave His disciples three warnings in regards to prayer:

1. Don’t pray to be seen of men. This is a type of hypocrisy and vanity. God is impressed with a humble attitude and a contrite heart.

2. Go to a private place and shut the door. Prayer is personal and private between you and God.

3. Don’t use vain repetitions. God is interested in quality prayer and not the quantity of many words and phrases.

In Mat 6:9 (NKJV) Jesus said "In this manner, therefore, pray:" We need to remember that Jesus did not pray this "model prayer" that he gave to His disciples. This "model prayer" is an outline or pattern that He gave to His disciples as a teaching tool for them to learn how to pray. Jesus did not say that these are the exact words that we should use and repeat over and over and over again. We should use this "model prayer" as an outline. Think about each phrase, then meditate and pray and expand upon each phrase.

It is interesting to notice that there are seven specific requests in Jesus’ "model prayer".

When I became aware of this fact, I grabbed my book, "Number in Scripture" and looked up the number "7".

This "model prayer" with seven requests denotes "spiritual perfection" of a complete prayer.

Let’s notice the seven requests as listed in Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV): "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven,

1. Hallowed be Your name.

2. Your kingdom come.

3. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

4. Give us this day our daily bread.

5. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

6 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

7. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

This "model prayer" begins with "Our Father in heaven". Jesus begins by telling us to begin our prayers by addressing God the Father.

Prayer is like a telephone call. We place a phone call to a company and when someone answers, we say, "I would like to speak to John Doe in your Columbus, Ohio office". We will then be connected and then can continue our conversation with the person on the other end of the line.

In our prayer, we are being specific in saying that we want to talk to "Our Father in heaven."

Addressing God in our prayers is something that we may take for granted, but this was new instruction for the disciples of Jesus.

Jesus said: "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him" (John 1:18 NKJV).

This amazing scripture is saying that "No one has seen God at any time". This is referring to God the Father. Notice that this scripture also says that Jesus "has declared Him". Jesus revealed the Father. Let’s notice another scripture that says: ""All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him" (Mat 11:27 NKJV).

It is Jesus’ responsibility to reveal the Father to whom Jesus selects to reveal Him to.

The Apostle John relates that "the Father" must draw a person to Jesus: ""No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. {45} "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. {46} "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. {47} "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life" (John 6:44-47 NKJV).

Did you notice also in this scripture that no one has seen the Father.

Let’s continue in John 14:7 where the Apostle John says that Jesus revealed the Father: ""If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." {8} Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." {9} Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? {10} "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. {11} "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves (John 14:7-14 NKJV).

The point of these verses is that there was no access to God the Father in Old Testament times until Jesus came to reveal Him.

Now let’s notice what was going on when Jesus was dying on the cross.

"Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. {46} And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" {47} Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man is calling for Elijah!" {48} Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. {49} The rest said, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him." {50} And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. {51} Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, {52} and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised" (Mat 27:45-52 NKJV).

Notice what happened when Jesus died. Verse 51 says: "the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom".

Let’s notice Jesus’ role as our High Priest and His connection to the veil. Hebrews 9:11-12 ( NKJV) says: "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation."
{12} "Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."
Let’s continue in Heb. 10:19-22: "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, {20} by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, {21} and having a High Priest over the house of God, {22} let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

Jesus made it possible for us to be able to go directly to God without going through a "middle man" or a "priesthood". Since the veil was torn God is now "approachable" by mankind and we can pray directly to God the Father.

The "model prayer" says: "Our Father in heaven". Let’s look at some scriptures that shows that God is our Father.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. {15} For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." {16} The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom 8:14-16 NKJV).

God Wants to be Our Father

God wants sons and daughters and He wants to be our Father.

"And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." {17} Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." {18} "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty"" (2 Cor 6:16-18 NKJV).

When we pray "Our Father", we must realize that God is not just "my God", but that He is the Father of thousands of people throughout the world who have an intimate and personal relationship with Him.

We should have a feeling of love and closeness to God who gives us every good and perfect gift, protects us, provides for us, guides us, heals us and gives us the gifts of His holy spirit.

God is personable and is a God of love, mercy, kindness and is very gracious.

After addressing God to whom we are praying to, the next item in the "model prayer" is "Hallowed be Your name".

As a reminder, this is the first request of seven requests which forms a prayer of "spiritual perfection."

Webster’s Dictionary defines the word "hallow" as: "to honor as being holy; revere; adore."

We should begin our prayers by honoring and praising God’s name, His authority, His office, His character, His power, His goodness, kindness and mercy.

David glorifies God’s name and praises God for His creation. "O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! {2} Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. {3} When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, {4} What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? {5} For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. {6} You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, {7} All sheep and oxen; Even the beasts of the field, {8} The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. {9} O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!" (Psalms 8:1-9 NKJV).

Take the time and read Psalms 103:1-22. David Praises God and exalts His name in this beautiful psalm.

God gave us His ten command-ments of which the first four shows us how to have a right relationship with Him. The third commandment says: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7 NKJV).

To have a right relationship with God we must revere, adore and honor God and His name.

Our attitude of praise, worship, adoration and exaltation of God shows to whom we are praying as "Our Father!"

Our second request in the "model prayer" is: "Your Kingdom come."

The Bible tells us that this is Satan's world and he is the god of it.

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Cor 4:4 KJV)

The Bible also tells us that Satan has deceived the whole world: "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Rev 12:9 NKJV).

We can see that from these two scriptures that Satan has spiritually blinded most people's minds so that they can not know about God and the "glorious gospel of Christ".

If you believe the Bible then you have to believe what it says, that Satan has deceived the whole world. That is a staggering statement. Do you believe it?

The book of Mark begins with the statement about the gospel: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mark 1:1 NKJV). "Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, {15} and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel"" (Mark 1:14-15 NKJV).

Did you notice what Jesus was preaching? He was preaching the gospel. The gospel of what? He was preaching the gospel of "the kingdom of God"!

The word "gospel" means "good news", "glad tidings" or "good message". So Jesus came preaching the "good news" of the "kingdom of God".

Notice in verse 15 that we must "repent and believe this gospel" to be saved.

This message that Jesus brought to us about "the kingdom" is very important.

When we are praying for God’s kingdom to come, we are asking God to set up His literal Government on the earth through the return of His Son Jesus Christ as "King of kings and Lord of lords!" (Rev. 19:16).

God’s government on earth will last 1,000 years. It will be a millennium of world peace, prosperity, good health, a land of "milk and honey."

There is a new world coming and it will be a "utopia".

We are told to pray for God’s kingdom, His realm, His government to come.

Jesus admonished us: ""But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Mat 6:33 NKJV). We are to "pray" for the kingdom and to "seek first" the kingdom of God.

(Check out our feature article: "Thy Kingdom Come! " that will go into detail about the return of Christ and the millennium).

Our third request in the "model prayer" is: "Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven."

We must ask God to help us understand and surrender to His will. Ask God to help you study and understand the Bible so you can know His will.

How would you know what God’s will is without reading and studying the Bible.

"It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" (Mat 4:4 NKJV).

It is God’s will that we keep His commandments. "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. {2} "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God" (Deut. 28:1-2 NKJV). We will reap many blessings if we keep God’s commandments. He wants what is best for us.

The word "will" could be translated as "desire" or "pleasure".

We have just seen that we are to pray for the kingdom. Now let’s notice that God will have pleasure in giving the kingdom to us: "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32 NKJV).

It is God’s will that we are to be resurrected and that He can give us eternal life. "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. {38} "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. {39} "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. {40} "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:37-40 NKJV).

It is God’s will that all His children make it into the kingdom and that none would perish. "Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish" (Mat 18:14 NKJV). "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16 NKJV).

The night before Jesus was crucified He was with His disciples. He knew that His crucifixion would happen soon and he was sorrowful and deeply distressed. "Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." {37} And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. {38} Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." {39} He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." {40} Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? {41} "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." {42} Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done"" (Mat 26:36-42 NKJV).

When Jesus first prayed, He was hoping that God could work out another solution for the salvation of man besides the horrible way for Him to die through the crucifixion, but He realized that it had to be done God’s way. Jesus said "Your will be done."

Jesus realized that God the Father knew what was best.

We need to read and study God’s word to know His will.

Our fourth request in the "model prayer" is: "Give us this day our daily bread."

Now comes our opportunity to ask God to supply our daily needs.

Remember the story of ancient Israel when God delivered them out of Egypt and then He fed them daily with manna. God supplied their daily needs.

(Check out our feature article on "MANNA! " which describes it more in detail.)

We should not expect more than what is required for today. If God blesses us with provisions for a longer period of time, then we should be very thankful and grateful. Most people today are blessed abundantly and have provisions stored up for several days or weeks. We should be appreciative of the blessings that God has given us.

Does God promise to supply whatever we need? We find the answer in Phil. 4:19 (NKJV) "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

God will supply our needs, but we need to do something first. Quoting from Jesus: "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. {10} "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Luke 11:9-10 NKJV).

God will supply our needs, but He wants us to first ask!

Talk to God about your vocation, shelter, food, clothing, transportation, health, etc. Talk to God if you are having a problem in any area of need.

God knows your needs, but He desires that you ask. "For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him" (Mat. 6:8 NKJV).

If you don’t ask then you may not receive what you need. James the brother of Jesus says: "Yet you do not have because you do not ask. {3} You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:2-3 NKJV).

We have to be careful that we don’t ask "amiss". A synonym for "amiss" is evil. We must not ask God to punish someone for any kind of an evil reason that we might have. We shouldn’t ask God to let us win the million dollar lottery. This would be for reasons of lust and greed. It is not God’s purpose to give you a million dollars if you didn’t work for it. God promises to supply your "needs" not your "wants".

You can definitely pray for your "wants" and if God supplies them then be thankful and grateful.

Pray in detail. Years ago, a friend told me that she wanted a piano and had been praying in detail about the kind of piano that she wanted. She was happy that God answered her prayer and she got exactly what she wanted.

God promises to supply us with our daily bread and our needs.

Our fifth request in the "model prayer" is: "And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors."

We are to ask for forgiveness for our sins. We all sin daily. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23 NKJV).

What is sin? The answer is found in

1 John 3:4 (KJV) "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."

We need to recognize and repent daily of our sins, short-comings and rebellion against the laws of God. We must ask God to forgive us but we must do something first before God will forgive us. "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. {26} "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses" (Mark 11:25-26 NKJV).

God requires that we must first forgive others before He will forgive us. Jesus said: "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. {23} "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, {24} "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Mat 5:22-24 NKJV).

God will forgive us of our sins in proportion as we forgive those who have sinned against us.

If you have a problem in this area then ask God to clean you up and replace the spirit of hate with the spirit of love. It is a great feeling to know that you have no hatred for any man. We need to learn to forgive like God forgives. "For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; {12} As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalms 103:11-12 NKJV).

God forgives and forgets "as far as the east is from the west."

It is interesting to note that the two verses following the "model prayer" focuses back to forgiveness. "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. {15} "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Mat 6:14-15 NKJV).

We must forgive others so God will forgive us.

Our sixth request in the "model prayer" is: "And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

There is a difference between trials and temptations. The Apostle James says that we are to have joy when we fall into trials. "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, {3} knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:2-3 NKJV). We may not find it joyous at the time but it does produce certain benefits. The Apostle Peter said: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, {7} that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 1:6-7 NKJV). Peter compares trials to be more precious than gold.

When it comes to temptations there is a very important point to remember. God does not tempt anyone.

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. {13} Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. {14} But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed" (James 1:12-14 NKJV).

Since God does not tempt anyone, lets’ notice who does the tempting: "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. {2} And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. {3} Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." {4} But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"(Mat 4:1-4 NKJV).

Satan the devil is the tempter. He is the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10) and our adversary. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet 5:8 NKJV).

There are many examples in the Bible of Satan tempting people.

Let’s look at the example of Peter. Jesus predicted His own death and resurrection. Peter began to correct Jesus and probably did not realize that it was Satan who had put thoughts into his mind to correct Jesus. Notice what Jesus said to Peter: "From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. {22} Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" {23} But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men"(Mat 16:21-23 NKJV).

"So correct me, LORD, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die" (Jer 10:24 NLT).

We need to ask God to correct us daily so that we will not fall into a severe trial where God might have to deal with us severely.

The story of Job comes to mind. God allowed Satan to kill Job’s children and livestock and cover his body with boils (Job 1, 2:7). This was a very severe trial.

To avoid severe trials, ask God to help you learn the necessary lessons now and to correct you daily. Ask God to be gentle with you and not to correct you in His anger.

We are also to pray: "but deliver us from the evil one." How do we do this? "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. {8} Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:7-8 NKJV).

Our seventh and final request in the "model prayer" is: "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever."

This "model prayer" outline that Jesus gave begins with praise and adoration of God and so it also ends with praise and adoration. This reminds us of whom we are praying to. It tells us that God has power and glory and that power and glory is eternal.

Let’s notice how David would pray if he were praying this final request of the "model prayer": "Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: "Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. {11} Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. {12} Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. {13} "Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name." (1 Chr 29:10-13 NKJV).

Where does the power of world governments come from? When Jesus was on trial He told Pilate that whatever power that Pilate had, it had been given to him by God. "Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?" {11} Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above."" (John 19:10-11 NKJV).

At the seventh trump when Jesus returns to the earth to rule as "King of kings and Lord of lords", all of the kingdoms of this earth and their power will be given to Him. "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" {16} And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, {17} saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. {18} The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth." {19} Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail" (Rev 11:15-19 NKJV).

When we are praying and ready to finish our prayer, we say "In Jesus Name." Jesus did not tell His disciples at this time to do this, but later, He did instruct them to do so.

{12} "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. {13} "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. {14} "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:13 NKJV).

The "model prayer" ends with an "Amen".

The "Jewish New Testament Commentary" says: "The Hebrew word "Amen" means: "it is true, so be it, may it become true."

In Conclusion:

Jesus’ "model prayer" outline contains the vital keys to help you in your prayer life. Apply them daily. This article is meant to be a tool to help you in your prayer life. Take it with you into your prayer closet and read through it and meditate on each request.

Begin your prayer by addressing God as "Our Father". Ponder each of the seven requests and elaborate on each request. End your prayer by giving God praise and adoration.

And finally close your prayer with: "Amen."

(2,3): E. W. Bullinger, "Number in Scripture", 1967, p. 168.

(4): F.B. Huey, Jr. "The Zondervan - Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible",- 1976, page 862.

(5): William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series, The Gospel of Matthew, 1975, p. 371.

(6): William MacDonald, The Believers Bible Commentary, Rom. 8:15, 1990, p. 1710.