In Matthew 6, Jesus discusses three spiritual practices (giving, prayer, and fasting) and how these should result in a more trusting walk with God. Reflect on this great chapter and the following attributes of God and pray to God, following the pattern of Reverence-Response-Requests-Readiness.
Attributes of God
Reverence - How/why will I praise God?
Response - How will I respond to God?
Requests - How will I pray for others?
Readiness - How will we pray for our own spiritual readiness?
Attributes of God
- He is a rewarder of the obedient (1, 4, 18)
- He knows what you need (8) and provides (11)
- He is our heavenly Father (9) who is hallowed (9)
- He is a leader and deliverer (13)
- He is a forgiver of sins (14)
- He cares deeply for us (26)
- He is a provider for our needs (30)
Reverence - How/why will I praise God?
- Father, I praise you for knowing what I needed when [...] and providing [...] for me
- Lord, I worship you for being my heavenly Father who led me through…
- Father, thank you for showing me your deep care for me when…
Response - How will I respond to God?
- Lord, because you reward the obedient, help me to walk obediently in…
- Heavenly Father, may you be hallowed in my life through…
- Lord, because you are a forgiver of sins, please forgive me of...
Requests - How will I pray for others?
- Father, I believe that you know what [...] needs; please provide for him/her so that he/she will come to know you as their Provider
- Lord, please let [...] know of your care for him/her, so that they will come to a deeper knowledge of you
- Father, please deliver [...] from the trial he/she is facing, so that they will know you as their God
Readiness - How will we pray for our own spiritual readiness?
- Lord, because you have cared for me, may I care for [...] as deeply as you cared for me
- Father, as you have forgiven me, may I forgive [...] when he/she sins against me
- Father, as my provider, may I turn to you in [...] for provision
