Connecting with God Through Prayer

Today’s reading is out of Matthew 6:9-13. Begin today’s devotion by reading this passage in your Bible.

Prayer is one of the most well-known and versatile spiritual practices. Maybe we think of prayer as asking God for things. This is one kind of prayer (Philippians 4:6). But there are also prayers of meditation, contemplative prayer, prayers of guidance—21 different kinds of prayer as helpfully laid out in Richard Foster’s book entitled Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home (a fantastic resource). But what do all of these kinds of prayer have in common? They are all a form of keeping company with God. Through prayer we posture our soul to commune and communicate with God—speaking to be heard; listening to hear; and simply enjoying the mysterious but real company of our ever-present Lord. If you don’t know what to pray, try praying the prayer Jesus gave us in Matthew 6:9-13. Let’s reflect on that prayer below.

Matthew 6:9-13 9 This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Reflect

  1. Were you familiar with this prayer growing up? Do you understand the meaning of this prayer, or is it confusing to you? What part of it sticks out to you the most and why?
  2. Jesus teaches us to pray to God as “Father.” How does addressing God as Father affect your whole approach to prayer?
  3. How do you think your approach to your daily life will change by praying “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”?

Act

Explore a few different kinds of prayer; like the ones mentioned in Foster’s book on prayer. Discover which types of prayer you gravitate toward, and how to make them a part of your life. Meditative prayer is a great way to combine Scripture and prayer. Write down Psalm 23:6 and repeat it out loud or in your heart several times a day. For more information on meditative prayer, read this post.

Pray

Lord, give me the desire to pray so that it is not a chore, but a vibrant and consistent part of my walk with You. Help me to connect with you during times of prayer and grow my desire to hear your voice as I open my heart to you. Amen.