30-Day New Testament Prayer Devotional: Walking in Prayer with Jesus and the Early Church

Reading: Matthew 6:5-15

Reflection: Jesus provides his disciples with a model prayer that encompasses praise, submission to God's will, petition for daily needs, forgiveness, and spiritual protection. This prayer serves as a framework for all prayer.

AI Prayer Prompt: Use the Lord's Prayer as a template, expanding each section with your own words and needs.

"Our Father in Heaven"

• Thank you for being my Father
• Help me feel close to you today

"Hallowed be Your name"

• I praise you for who you are
• Help me honor you in all I do

"Your kingdom come, Your will be done"

• Show me what you want me to do today
• Help me follow your plan, not mine

"Give us today our daily bread"

• I need help with [your specific need]
• Please provide for [current situation]

"Forgive us our debts"

• I'm sorry for [specific thing you did]
• Help me do better tomorrow

"As we forgive our debtors"

• Help me forgive [person's name]
• Take away any bitterness I feel

"Lead us not into temptation"

• Keep me strong when I face [your challenge]
• Help me make good choices today

"Deliver us from evil"

• Protect me and my loved ones
• Guard my heart and mind

End with: "Thank you for hearing my prayer"

Verse:

Matthew 6:5–15 (ESV): 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 
  10 Your kingdom come, your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven. 
  11 Give us this day our daily bread, 
  12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 
  13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.