This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,

Matthew 6:9

This prayer begins where all genuine prayer must begin — with the spirit of adoption: “Our Father.”
No prayer is truly acceptable to God until we can say from the heart, “I will arise and go to my Father.”

Once we approach God as His children, we soon recognize His greatness — our Father in heaven — and our hearts are lifted in worship: “Hallowed be Your name.”
The child who first whispers, “Abba, Father,” grows into one who cries out with awe, “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

From heartfelt worship, the soul naturally moves to a desire for God’s work in the world: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
This missionary longing flows from love and reverence for our heavenly Father.

Then comes the humble recognition of our daily dependence on Him: “Give us today our daily bread.”
As the Spirit continues to teach us, we realize that we are not only needy but also sinful, and so we ask for mercy: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Once we have received forgiveness and know we are accepted through Christ’s righteousness, we then pray for strength to remain faithful: “Lead us not into temptation.”
A truly forgiven person is careful not to fall again into sin.
To pray “Forgive us our debts” is to seek justification; to pray “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” is to seek sanctification — both the turning away from sin and the pursuit of holiness.

Finally, the prayer ends in joyful praise: “For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
We rejoice that our King rules over all things, both in providence and in grace, and that His kingdom will have no end.

From the first moment of calling God “Father” to the final expression of worship and trust in His reign, this short model prayer guides the soul through every stage of communion with God.
Lord, teach us to pray in this way.

You crown the year with your bounty,
    and your carts overflow with abundance.

Psalm 65:11

Many of the Lord’s “paths” overflow with blessing, but one of the most special is the path of prayer. No believer who spends much time alone with God will ever have to cry, “I am weak and empty; woe is me.”

Those who stay far from the throne of grace become spiritually starved, like dry fields in a season of drought. But those who wrestle earnestly in prayer grow strong in the Lord—if not always joyful, at least deeply strengthened.

The place closest to heaven’s gate is found at the throne of grace. Spend much time there, and your faith will become firm and full of assurance. Spend little time alone with Jesus, and your faith will be shallow, troubled by doubts and fears, and lacking the joy of the Lord.

Since the rich and nourishing path of prayer is open even to the weakest believer—since it requires no great spiritual achievement, and since the invitation to come is freely given to every saint—see to it, dear reader, that you make private prayer a regular habit. Be often on your knees, for it was through prayer that Elijah brought rain to the drought-stricken land of Israel.

There is another path filled with blessing for those who walk in it—the secret path of communion with Christ. Oh, the sweetness of fellowship with Jesus! No words on earth can describe the holy peace of a soul resting on His heart.

Few Christians truly experience this. Many remain in the lowlands of faith, rarely climbing the heights of spiritual closeness. They stay in the outer court and do not enter the holy place; they do not live out their privilege as priests before God. From a distance they behold the sacrifice, but they do not sit down with the priest to share in it or to taste the richness of the offering.

But you, reader, stay ever near to Jesus. Rest under His shadow; reach up and take hold of the branches of that palm tree. Let your Beloved be to you as the apple tree among the trees of the forest, and your soul will be filled and satisfied with His goodness. O Jesus, visit us with Your salvation!