Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Tonight’s Study, Session 8: How Can I Know How to Pray and What to Pray For?
Introduction: From the Old Testament to the New, God commands His people to pray. When facing a crisis, we have no trouble knowing how to pray and what to pray for. We ask the Lord for help, deliverance, provision, or healing. At other times, we know we should pray, but we’re not sure what to pray about. This study will help us as believers to know how to pray and what to pray for as we look at God’s Word for answers.
Jesus’ Model of How to Pray and What to Pray for
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
The Lord’s Prayer as found in Matthew 6:9-13, is a model prayer given to us by Jesus to show us how to pray and what to pray for. The Lord’s Prayer covers basics like honoring God, asking for daily needs to be met, seeking forgiveness, and requesting protection from temptation.
Lets Break Down The Lord’s Prayer
- “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” It is to God alone we pray, and a primary thing we pray for is that we would “hallow” God’s name. That is, we pray that we would make God’s name and reputation holy, that we would sanctify it. God is holy and worthy of all honor, and our first priority is to pray that the world would see how holy and glorious He is.
How are we to pray? With reverence and adoration.
What are we to pray for? To make God’s name and reputation holy, that the world would see how holy and glorious God is.
- “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Before we start down our list of needs, we must remind ourselves that it is God’s will we desire, not our own (Matthew 26:39,42). The primary goal of prayer is to align our will with God’s. We must make sure our hearts are in right relationship with Him; otherwise, our prayers are little more than to-do lists we expect God to fulfill. So we pray that God’s will would prevail in our hearts and lives, regardless of what else we ask for.
Matthew 26:39 – He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Matthew 26:42 – Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
How are we to pray? According to God’s will.
What are we to pray for? For God’s will to prevail in our hearts and lives, regardless of what else we ask for.
- “Give us this day our daily bread.” We are invited to ask for what we need. Jesus tells us this in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
*Philippians 4:19 – And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
We usually spend the most time on this part of the Lord’s Prayer (“Give us this day our daily bread”) because these concerns are what drives us to pray. Whatever is troubling our hearts, whatever fears, needs, or anxieties are plaguing us, we are told to cast them on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). Job trouble, family squabbles, rebellious children, financial strain, or the search for meaning are all part of “give us this day our daily bread.” Whatever is pressing on our hearts can be laid at the feet of Jesus and left there.
1 Peter 5:7 – casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
How are we to pray? Expectantly, believing that God provides*
What are we to pray for? Our daily necessities, our needs to be met.
- “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Another thing we pray for is personal forgiveness. This is where prayer can become painful. If our hearts are sincere before God, He will reveal those areas where we are clinging to sin or living in unforgiveness. We are invited to confess our sins and expect a full pardon (1 John 1:9). But then God requires us to pay it forward. We must be ready to forgive those who have sinned against us. To extend forgiveness is not an option, it is a command (Ephesians 4:32). As we ask forgiveness for our own transgressions, we must be ready to forgive those who have hurt us.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Ephesians 4:32 – And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
How are we to pray? With open, honest hearts before God.
What are we to pray for? For forgiveness of our sins and for the willingness to forgive others who have sinned against us.
- “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” God does not lead people into temptation (James 1:13-14). Rather, Jesus is teaching that we acknowledge the presence of an evil tempter, and we ask God for protection from his devices. Every temptation we face is experienced by others, and God will provide “the way of escape” so that the temptation is not too great to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). Admitting our tendency to fall into temptation, we call upon the Lord to protect us. We pray for the power to intentionally seek “the way of escape” whether it be changing the channel, changing a relationship, or changing our minds.
James 1:13-14 – Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
How are we to pray? With the acknowledgement that evil is real and all around us, trusting that God is always with us no matter what.
What are we to pray for? The Lord’s protection from Satan and the power to resist temptation and not give into it and sin.
6.””For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” After we make our “requests known unto God” (Philippians 4:6), it is good to remember who God is.Worship is an important part of prayer, but we often jump straight to the requests and then the “Amen” without pausing to recount God’s greatness. By concluding with a summation of all God is due, we are saying, “Lord, You alone are worthy of all worship and praise. It is your will, not mine, that must prevail, and I will work in harmony with you. You alone deserve my adoration and obedience, and I freely give it.”
Philippians 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
How are we to pray? In a worshipful spirit, remembering who God is.
What are we to pray for? For God alone to receive all the glory and honor and praise. Obedience to God would be the fruit of our praise.
Conclusion: The how to pray and what to pray for are vital keys to a vibrant and fulfilling prayer life. Using the Lord’s Prayer as a model prayer as it was intended gives us a believers more than just a prescriptive way to pray, but a descriptive way to pray. The only thing that Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them before His departure was how to pray. As we learn more about the “how to Pray” and “what to pray for” by using the Lord’s Prayer as a guide, we will have the prayer lives that God intended for us to have as His children who call out to Him and know Him as “Abba Father.”
Next Week, Session 9: How can I stop being nervous about praying publicly?