"This, then, is how you should 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 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." Matthew 6:9-13

This Sunday, Pastor Dan Lian led us into a deeper understanding of prayer, showing that it’s not just a discipline, but a pathway to delight and transformation. Drawing from the example of Jesus and the Lord’s Prayer, he taught us how prayer positions our hearts before God, aligns our desires with His will, and prepares us to receive His provision, peace, and breakthrough.

Whether prayer feels natural or difficult, whether we’ve been disappointed in the past or simply distracted by life, this message  encouraged us to embrace a rhythm of prayer that shapes our lives and draws us closer to God. Join us as we commit to a life marked by intentional, heartfelt prayer, moving from discipline into delight.

‍

Pray More

• Prayer is not just a spiritual suggestion; it is the invitation for every season of life.
• No matter the situation, success, uncertainty, fear, pain, or decision, the response is the same: pray more.
• Prayer is how darkness lifts, fear dissipates, clarity comes, and the enemy flees.
• Some things will not change until we pray.

An Honest Confession About Prayer

• Prayer has not always been easy or natural.
• Common struggles with prayer:
  • Distraction – the mind wandering constantly
  • Fear – praying and not seeing answers
  • Pride – believing “I’ve got this”
  • Disappointment – unanswered or delayed prayers
• Many people stop praying not because they don’t believe, but because they’ve been disappointed.

Why the Disciples Asked Jesus to Teach Them to Pray

• The disciples never asked Jesus how to preach, lead, or build influence.
• The only thing they asked Him to teach was prayer.
• Even Jesus—the Son of God—prayed consistently, desperately, and rhythmically.
• If Jesus needed prayer, we certainly do.

The Lord’s Prayer: A Pattern, Not a Formula

Scripture: Matthew 6:9–13

• The Lord’s Prayer is not:
  • A lucky poem
  • A religious chant
  • A magic formula to manipulate God
• It is a pattern revealed—a rhythm and a song that teaches us how to live a life marked by prayer.
• For some, prayer becomes a delight quickly.
• For others, it begins as a discipline.
• For all of us, it leads us to the same place, present before God

What Prayer Actually Does

1. Prayer Positions Us

• Prayer is primarily about posture, not eloquence.
• It positions our soul correctly before God.
• “Prayer is more about the posturing of your soul than the pontification of your lips.”
• The opening line, “Our Father in heaven”, reminds us:
  • God is God.
  • We are not.
• This is not bad news, it is freedom.

2. Prayer Aligns Us

• Life constantly knocks our souls out of alignment:
  • Busyness and pressure
  • Social media and noise
  • Relationships and expectations
  • Fear, finances, and uncertainty
• “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” realigns:
  • Our hearts
  • Our desires
  • Our priorities
  • Our resources
• Anxiety and fear are often alarms signaling it’s time to pray again.

3. Prayer Prepares Us to Receive

• God has daily bread prepared for His people.
• Some provision remains unreceived simply because we haven’t prayed.
• Forgiveness, healing, peace, provision, and breakthrough are accessed through prayer.
• Just like catching a ball requires readiness, receiving from God requires posture.

There are some things you will never receive until you pray.

Prayer as a Rhythm, Not a Moment

• Prayer works best as a rhythm woven into daily life, not a single event.
• Examples of prayer rhythms:
  • Morning posture before God
  • Short, frequent prayers throughout the day
  • Evening prayer and reflection
• The goal is not perfection, it’s consistency.
• Discipline, over time, becomes delight.

Though we don’t know everything about the future, we do know this: we will pray more, and what begins as discipline will become delight, shaping us into a church and a people marked by prayer.

‍

Discussion Questions

1. Prayer was described as a posture, not just words. What does that mean to you, and how does it change the way you approach prayer?
2. Life constantly knocks our souls out of alignment. What pressures or rhythms in your life are doing that right now?
3. The Lord’s Prayer is a pattern, not a formula. Which part of that pattern do you find easiest to engage with? Which part do you tend to avoid?
4. Has prayer felt more like a discipline or a delight in your life recently? What do you think influences that?

‍

‍

‍