The focus should be on talking to God, not on what those who hear you think.
The problem is not praying in public but hypocrisy.
Prayer shouldn't be something we do to appear pious.
It easy to be concerned about using the right words and sounding good when we pray rather than actually just talking to God.
There's nothing wrong with repeating and being persistent in prayer, but it speaks against vain repetition. v7
- God loves and hears us. Our prayers don't have to be long.
God looks at our hearts.
Prayer rests in the knowledge of our Father. v8
Prayer never informs God of anything. He already knows everything; He just wants us to ask.
Paternal Nature of Prayer v9a
God is our Father, and prayer begins with that privilege.
Only Christians can call God their Father.
Priority of Prayer vv9–10
His kingdom to be honored, His name glorified, and His will done.
A desire that God's rule and will be done on earth
Too often, we pray for our wills to be done, but that shouldn't be our priority in prayer.
We need to spend more time listening to God.
Often we want others or the culture to change, but we should focus on ourselves changing.
Prayer doesn't advance our agenda; it surrenders it.
God's will is communicated in His word.
Provision of Prayer v11
God provided manna one day at a time.
All we have comes from God.
Our abundance makes us privileged and prideful.
Our wealth cannot be a replacement for God.
Prayer should teach us contentment.
We need to remember what is a need and what is a want.
Pray for others' needs as well as your own.
Pardons of Prayer v12
We need to ask forgiveness for our sins.
We need to forgive each other.
When we remember how much we have been forgiven, we should be quick to forgive others.
What do I need to confess?
Who do I need to forgive?
Protection from Future Sin v13a
Acknowledge our own weakness.
There's no sin we couldn't commit on our own.
All our righteousness comes from God.
We're too confident in our own righteousness.
Yet we should never forego asking for God's deliverance from sin.
Psalm 141:3–4
We shouldn't willingly walk into temptation.
We have to be willing to follow the protections He gives us.
We should truly want holiness.
God's Kingdom v13b
His kingdom should be our priority, not building our own kingdoms.
Our prayers should be glorifying God, not just making our lives easier.
