From the Pulpit...

A. The model prayer, or any prayer for that matter that is patterned after it, is of no value if the heart of the person praying it is not walking with God. “If I cherish iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (loose quotation of Psalm 66:18). B. The question and the Lord’s answer concern private, individual prayer. The Lord is not talking about public prayer offered in a gathered worship service. That topic is addressed elsewhere in Scripture (1 Cor. 11:4-13, 14:13-17; 1 Thess. 5:17, 5:25; 1 Tim. 2:1-8). Paul in particular gives reports about the content of his prayers. I do not believe those things violate the Lord’s prohibition about public prayer in Matthew 6 because Paul is not giving the prayer report to seek praise from people as the Pharisees were doing. He is giving the report to edify and encourage the church. Those who pray publicly in church also must pray with similar motivation. We also see examples of the first church praying together in Acts 1:14, 4:24-31, 12:12, 13:3, 14:23, 20:36, 21:5, 27:29. C. The model prayer gives us a template, an outline if you will, that shows our focus in all things it to be heavenward—toward God as holy Father, toward God’s kingdom and will, toward God’s provision, toward God’s mercy in forgiveness, with respect to our similar godly attitude toward others, and toward holiness in our conduct. D. The model prayer does not accomplish its design if we do not pray very much or often.