Teaching on prayer5"And do not imitate the hypocrites when you pray. Again, they want to be seen and applauded by others, whether they stand in the meeting or on street corners in public. I tell you most emphatically, they also have already received the only reward they will ever get!6Rather, when you pray, go in your private room, shut the door and pray unseen by others to your Father, who is also unseen. Your Father sees and rewards what you do secretly.7"And when you pray, do not keep babbling on like the pagans do, thinking that the more words they use, the more effective their prayers will be.8No, do not be like them, for your Father is well aware of what you need even before you ask Him. This is the kind of outline you should use when praying:9"Our heavenly Father, let Your holy name be praised.10May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as is already the case in heaven.11Give us today everything we need.12Forgive us when we sin against You, just as we forgive those who sin against us.13And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from all the power and influence of the evil one.14"You can be sure that your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive others when they sin against you.15But if you do not forgive others their sins, there is no point in expecting your Father to forgive your sins!
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)