Jesus Christ gave us the rudiments of prayer in the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4.

The disciples like every follower of Jesus Christ wanted to have an intimate conversation with God. They wanted to know how to approach God in prayer. Our definition of prayer comes from this exemplary encounter. Prayer is acknowledging God as the One true, holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, ever-present God who is now our father through the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. For the believer in Christ, prayer is us talking to God and God talking to us. We come to God sealing our prayers in the all-powerful name of Jesus Christ because He is the One who answers our prayers both in expected and unexpected ways-Psalm 65:2.

We go to God in prayer because we know He loves us, listens and acts according to His infinite wisdom in deciding what is best for us in every phase of our lives. God delights in our prayers not just because it is an acknowledgement of His eternal existence but because it brings us closer to him and deepens our relationship with Him. These reasons make it so pertinent to come to God with a heart of worship. Having a vibrant prayer life helps us to be and stay connected to our very life source. Jesus Christ, the author and the finisher of our faith and our highest living example made prayer a priority in His earthly life and ministry-Hebrews 12:2, Luke 3:21, Luke 5:16, Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Matthew 26:36, John 11:41.

The significance of praying in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ cannot be overemphasized hence the need to understand and practice the basic rudiments of prayer to have a vibrant and a fruitful prayer life. The Lord’s prayer as taught by Jesus Christ is centered on who God is, His will and His everlasting power. When we pray, our focus should also be on who God is, His will and His everlasting power to do or to undo. Cultivating a prayerful life is cultivating our relationship with God, it makes both our love and faith grow so our reason for praying should not be just because we need God to do something for us, intervene in a situation on our behalf or are desperate for a miracle though God still comes through for us in His faithfulness.

Understanding these simple rudiments of prayer helps us to pray with the right perspective. It helps us to focus on God as we are reminded of His holiness of God. We see the need to ask for His forgiveness and to forgive others. This understanding also prepares our hearts to accept God’s will even when we cannot understand the outcome of our prayer and to trust Him in the process each day. Our God is as near as a whispered prayer! He always wants what is best for us. When we go to God in prayer it should be on the foundation of faith in Him, wanting His perfect will for us and the name of Jesus Christ who is the seal to our prayers, for all the promises of God are both “yes” and “amen” in Him who is our Savior and Lord-John 14:13, 1John 5:14, 2 Corinthians 1:20.