Using the Model Prayer for a Guided Prayer Time

In our ministry, we have found that one of the best ways to have an extended prayer time for our groups has been to use the model prayer as taught by Jesus. Many call this the Lord’s prayer, and, of course, it is very familiar.

 

Matthew 6:9-13 – 9 Pray then like this:

“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 this day 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 evil.

 

If you are willing to use this prayer, not as something to recite, but rather as a set of categories through which to pray, it can easily help you to pray for half-an-hour or more.

 

Below is how we break the model prayer into categories along with one extra Scripture passage for each just to set the tone. Then I am including some particular things to pray.

 

Part 1: A prayer of praise and a prayer for God’s honor

 

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

 

Psalm 145:1-3

 

1 I will extol you, my God and King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless you

and praise your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

and his greatness is unsearchable.

 

• Praise God for who he is
• Ascribe holiness to the Lord
• Ask that he be seen by others as holy
• Pray that our church show that God is glorious

 

Part 2: A prayer that God’s will be done

 

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

 

Revelation 21:1-4 – 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

 

• Pray that God’s kingdom come in full and set things right forever
• Pray that God set things right in the here and now as a sign of his reign
• This is a place to lift up prayer requests for God to save the lost
• It is a place to pray that God will push back the darkness of this world
• Pray that God grow our church as a part of his kingdom

 

Part 3: A prayer for provision

 

Give us this day our daily bread,

 

Psalm 145:15-16

 

15 The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food in due season.

16 You open your hand;

you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

 

• Pray that God meet our needs
• Pray for provision
• Pray for physical healings
• Pray for the Lord to be glorified as he supplies our needs
• Pray for God to provide for the needs of our church in every way

 

Part 4: A prayer for forgiveness

 

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 

1 John 1:7-9 – 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

• Pray that God forgive us as a nation for our rebellion
• Pray that God forgive us personally for our intentional and unintentional sins
• Pray that God will help us forgive others as he has forgiven us
• In your heart, confess your sin and seek the Lord’s mercy
• Pray that God have mercy on our church, a body of forgiven sinners

 

Part 5: A prayer for protection

 

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

 

Psalm 23:4-5

 

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

 

• Pray that god protect you from the devil’s temptations and all spiritual warfare
• Pray that God protect you from sickness and harm
• Pray that God protect you from the evil actions of others
• Pray that God protect you from the sin in your own heart and mind
• Pray this all for our church body

 

Closing:

 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.