Q. Why do Christians need to pray?

A. Because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness God requires of us.^1 And also because God gives his grace and Holy Spirit only to those who pray continually and groan inwardly, asking God for these gifts and thanking him for them.^2

^1 Ps. 50:14-15; 116:12-19; 1 Thess. 5:16-18

^2 Matt. 7:7-8; Luke 11:9-13

Q. How does God want us to pray so that he will listen to us?

A. First, we must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, who has revealed himself in his Word, asking for everything he has commanded us to ask for.^1 Second, we must acknowledge our need and misery, hiding nothing, and humble ourselves in his majestic presence.^2 Third, we must rest on this unshakable foundation: even though we do not deserve it, God will surely listen to our prayer because of Christ our Lord. That is what he promised us in his Word.^3

^1 Ps. 145:18-20; John 4:22-24; Rom. 8:26-27; James 1:5; 1 John 5:14-15

^2 2 Chron. 7:14; Ps. 2:11; 34:18; 62:8; Isa. 66:2; Rev. 4

^3 Dan. 9:17-19; Matt. 7:8; John 14:13-14; 16:23; Rom. 10:13; James 1:6

Q. What did God command us to pray for?

A. Everything we need, spiritually and physically,^1 as embraced in the prayer Christ our Lord himself taught us.

^1 James 1:17; Matt. 6:33

Q. What is this prayer?

A. 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. 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 yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.^1*

^1 Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4 *Earlier and better manuscripts of Matthew 6 omit the words "For yours is . . . Amen."

Q. Why did Christ command us to call God "our Father"?

A. At the very beginning of our prayer Christ wants to kindle in us what is basic to our prayer-- the childlike awe and trust that God through Christ has become our Father. Our fathers do not refuse us the things of this life; God our Father will even less refuse to give us what we ask in faith.^1

^1 Matt. 7:9-11; Luke 11:11-13

Q. Why the words "in heaven"?

A. These words teach us not to think of God's heavenly majesty as something earthly,^1 and to expect everything for body and soul from his almighty power.^2

^1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 17:24-25

^2 Matt. 6:25-34; Rom. 8:31-32

Q. What does the first request mean?

A. "Hallowed be your name" means, Help us to really know you,^1 to bless, worship, and praise you for all your works and for all that shines forth from them: your almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth.^2 And it means, Help us to direct all our living-- what we think, say, and do-- so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us but always honored and praised.^3

^1 Jer. 9:23-24; 31:33-34; Matt. 16:17; John 17:3

^2 Ex. 34:5-8; Ps. 145; Jer. 32:16-20; Luke 1:46-55, 68-75; Rom. 11:33-36

^3 Ps. 115:1; Matt. 5:16

Q. What does the second request mean?

A. "Your kingdom come" means, Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to you.^1 Keep your church strong, and add to it.^2 Destroy the devil's work; destroy every force which revolts against you and every conspiracy against your Word.^3 Do this until your kingdom is so complete and perfect that in it you are all in all.^4

^1 Ps. 119:5, 105; 143:10; Matt. 6:33

^2 Ps. 122:6-9; Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:42-47

^3 Rom. 16:20; 1 John 3:8

^4 Rom. 8:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:28; Rev. 22:17, 20

Q. What does the third request mean?

A. "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" means, Help us and all people to reject our own wills and to obey your will without any back talk. Your will alone is good.^1 Help us one and all to carry out the work we are called to,^2 as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.^3

^1 Matt. 7:21; 16:24-26; Luke 22:42; Rom. 12:1-2; Tit. 2:11-12

^2 1 Cor. 7:17-24; Eph. 6:5-9 ^3 Ps. 103:20-21

Q. What does the fourth request mean?

A. "Give us today our daily bread" means, Do take care of all our physical needs^1 so that we come to know that you are the only source of everything good,^2 and that neither our work and worry nor your gifts can do us any good without your blessing.^3 And so help us to give up our trust in creatures and to put trust in you alone.^4

^1 Ps. 104:27-30; 145:15-16; Matt. 6:25-34

^2 Acts 14:17; 17:25; James 1:17

^3 Deut. 8:3; Ps. 37:16; 127:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:58

^4 Ps. 55:22; 62; 146; Jer. 17:5-8; Heb. 13:5-6

Q. What does the fifth request mean?

A. "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" means, Because of Christ's blood, do not hold against us, poor sinners that we are, any of the sins we do or the evil that constantly clings to us.^1 Forgive us just as we are fully determined, as evidence of your grace in us, to forgive our neighbors.^2

^1 Ps. 51:1-7; 143:2; Rom. 8:1; 1 John 2:1-2

^2 Matt. 6:14-15; 18:21-35

Q. What does the sixth request mean?

A. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" means, By ourselves we are too weak to hold our own even for a moment.^1 And our sworn enemies-- the devil,^2 the world,^3 and our own flesh--^4 never stop attacking us. And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong with the strength of your Holy Spirit, so that we may not go down to defeat in this spiritual struggle,^5 but may firmly resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory.^6

^1 Ps. 103:14-16; John 15:1-5

^2 2 Cor. 11:14; Eph. 6:10-13; 1 Pet. 5:8

^3 John 15:18-21

^4 Rom. 7:23; Gal. 5:17

^5 Matt. 10:19-20; 26:41; Mark 13:33; Rom. 5:3-5

^6 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Thess. 3:13; 5:23

Q. What does your conclusion to this prayer mean?

A. "For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever" means, We have made all these requests of you because, as our all-powerful king, you not only want to, but are able to give us all that is good;^1 and because your holy name, and not we ourselves, should receive all the praise, forever.^2

^1 Rom. 10:11-13; 2 Pet. 2:9

^2 Ps. 115:1; John 14:13

Q. What does that little word "Amen" express?

A. "Amen" means, This is sure to be! It is even more sure that God listens to my prayer, than that I really desire what I pray for.^1

^1 Isa. 65:24; 2 Cor. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:13