“Pray then like this…'” (Matt. 6:9).

When Joseph R. Sizoo visited an army training camp during WWII, he watched a group of seasoned soldiers show trainees how to accomplish their mission. Taking to their hands and knees in the wet, early morning grass, they became barely visible in the dawning light. The training officer explained, “If you advance on your knees, you are always safe.” Likewise, Paul prepares Christians for battle by sending us to our knees: “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:17-19). After outlining our armor and weapon, he summarizes our core battle tactic: praying at all times. How could Christians best protect comrades in battle? Make supplication for them! How could they help Paul in his gospel proclamation? Pray for him! This is among our most basic combat training: learning to pray! It’s not enough to learn facts ABOUT prayer, we need to develop the way of prayer Jesus taught, integrating his principles into our practice. In his most famous prayer “training” (Matthew 6:5-15), Jesus gave his disciples “Dos” and “Don’ts” of prayer.

1. Don’t Pray to Be Seen

“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. 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” (Matt. 6:5-6). A brother once chided me at a restaurant when I asked if I could offer thanks. “This doesn’t look like a closet to me,” he said. Did Jesus command that his disciples never pray publicly? No, Jesus publicly prayed in this chapter (Matt. 6:9-14) and offered thanks for a meal in front of thousands (Matt. 14:19). When we pray publicly, though we remain mindful of those praying with us, we must direct honest words to God. When you talk to God, speak to God, rather than using it as a pretense for a sermon. The hypocrisy Jesus addressed wasn’t in their location but their motivation. They stand “at the street corners” so that “that they may be seen” (Matt. 6:5). Prayer isn’t a show to collect kudos. When we make private prayer a habit, we’ll discover much richer rewards (Matt. 6:6) than a few people thinking we’re extra holy. Alone time with God is a gift leading to countless other blessings. “The secret of religion is religion in secret” (McNeill, h/t Leon Morris).

2. Don’t Pray Empty Phrases

“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. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matt. 6:7-8).

It’s not wrong to pray well-worn phrases if we mean them.

The problem isn’t repeated prayers (Mark 14:39), but meaningless prayers. The Gentiles thought they could ensure a deity would answer their prayers by making them extra lengthy Make your prayers direct and purposeful. Use your own words rather than memorized formulas or whatever we might consider “prayer language.” It’s not wrong to pray well-worn phrases if we mean them. But our “many words” and “empty phrases” don’t make God hear us more. A good way to avoid saying words you don’t mean is by keeping prayer simple, speaking to God in your own words. When we start talking to the air instead of God, empty phrases will start heaping up. Jesus called God “your Father” — we pray to the God who knows and cares (Matt. 6:8; 7:11). As Augustine said, “By prayer we open channels through which blessings, which are always ready, may flow.”

Prayer begins with our attitude toward God, who deserves all honor.

3. Pray with Reverence

“Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matt. 6:9). More than words to recite, Jesus gives us a manner of prayer, “Pray then like this.” Prayer begins with our attitude toward God, who deserves all honor. Boldness (Heb. 4:16) isn’t familiarity, and friendship with God doesn’t mean we speak to him like we do our buddies. Confidently come to God who loves you, but remember he is God (Heb. 12:28-29).

4. Pray with Submission

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Praying for God’s will takes humility (1 Jn. 5:14-15, Jam. 4:13-15), acceptance (Matt. 26:39), and obedience (Jam. 5:16).

5. Pray with Dependence

“Give us this day 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 evil” (Matt. 6:11-13). Like Israelites collecting manna in the wilderness, we rely on God every day for our physical and spiritual survival. This awareness drives us to prayer as a way of life.

6. Pray with Forgiveness

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14-15). We can be like a ten million dollar debtor (about 10,000 talents) who is forgiven ALL our debts and begins choking the guy who owes us so much less (like a hundred denarii). Jesus tells this parable (Matt. 18:21-35) to illustrate that the debt others owe us is nothing compared to the debt we ask God to forgive. Be merciful and find mercy.