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"For nearly 2000 years people have prayed this prayer. When you take these words on your lips you stand on hallow ground."
— NT Wright

Bottom Line

In order to learn how to pray, we need to know how not to pray.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:5-8

Two Ways Not to Pray

1. Do not pray in order to impress others

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
Matthew 6:5

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:6

The anecdote to performative prayer is to pray in private.

2. Do not pray in order to control God

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Matthew 6:7

"God’s not just a celestial cleaner-up and sorter-outer of our messes and wants. He is God. He is the living God. And he is our Father."
— NT Wright

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:8

The anecdote to genie Jesus prayers is to pray with trust.

"Since God knows what we need before we ask, this prayer, like all prayer, is less about informing God of things we want or need, and more about shaping our own heart and life."
‍— Adam Hamilton

Prayer is about connecting to God and submitting our lives in love to God.

Action Steps

Create some space this week to be alone and connect with God in prayer. Then take one situation in your life and — rather than praying for a specific outcome — submit that situation to God in love trusting that God knows what you need and is a good, good Father.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.