Today, I am reading and commenting on  Luke 10-11.

We do no spend enough time looking at how the Lord’s Prayer is a model for how we should pray.  I know that I don’t, and I was struck by that insight from an article I read 15-20 years ago.  I want to make it clear that what I am about to write is not original with me, even though I forget the author who wrote that article.

• First, we honor God and acknowledge our submission to His will (some manuscripts include “May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” after “Hallowed be Your name”, however I think that is implied in “Hallowed be Your name” anyway.)
• Second, we make our requests.  These requests should be for our basic needs and for the needs of others.
• Third, we confess our sins and request forgiveness, while acknowledging that we need to forgive others (and asking God to help us do so).
• Finally, we ask God to help us avoid sinning going forward.

Having given us a template for our prayers, Jesus then reminds us of the importance of frequent and persistent prayer.  It is in this context that Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock.  Those who ask will receive, those who seek will find, and those who knock will be invited in.  That sums up prayer, ask, seek, and knock.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.