A Confessional Baptist

Of Prayer and the Lord's Prayer

Question 109.

What is Prayer?

Answer:

Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God, for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgment of His mercies.
( 1 John 5:14; 1 John 1:9; Philippians 4:6; Psalm 10:17; 145:19; John 14:13,14 )

Question 110.

What rule has God given for our direction in prayer?

Answer:

The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer, but the special rule of direction is that prayer, which Christ taught His disciples, commonly called the Lord's Prayer.
( Matthew 6:9-13; 2 Timothy 3:16,17 )

Question 111.

What does the preface of the Lord's Prayer teach us?

Answer:

The preface of the Lord's Prayer, which is, "Our Father, which art in heaven," teaches us to draw near to God, with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us, and that we should pray with and for others.
( Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:13; Romans 8:15; Acts 12:5; 1 Timothy 2:1-3 )

Question 112.

What do we pray for in the first petition?

Answer:

In the first petition, which is "Hallowed be thy name," we pray that God would enable us and others to glorify Him in all that whereby He makes Himself known, and that He would dispose all things to His own glory.
( Matthew 6:9; Psalm 67:1-3; Romans 11:36; Revelation 4:11 )

Question 113.

What do we pray for in the second petition?

Answer:

In the second petition, which is "Thy kingdom come," we pray that satan's kingdom may be destroyed, and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced; ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it, and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.
( Matthew 6:10; Psalm 68:1-18; Romans 10:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Matthew 9:37,38; Revelation 22:20 )

Question 114.

What do we pray for in the third petition?

Answer:

In the third petition, which is, "Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven," we pray that God by His grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to His will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.
( Matthew 6:10; Psalm 103:20,21; Psalm 25:4,5; Psalm 119:26 )

Question 115.

What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

Answer:

In the fourth petition, which is, "Give us this day our daily bread," we pray that of God's free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life and enjoy His blessing with them.
( Matthew 6:11; Proverbs 30:8,9; 1 Timothy 6:6-8; 4:4,5 )

Question 116.

What do we pray for in the fifth petition?

Answer:

In the fifth petition, which is, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," we pray that God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by His grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.
( Matthew 6:12; Psalm 51:1,3,7; Mark 11:25; Matthew 18:35 )

Question 117.

What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

Answer:

In the sixth petition, which is, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.
( Matthew 6:13; 26:41; Psalm 19:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13; John 17:15 )

Question 118.

What does the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us?

Answer:

The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, which is, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen," teaches us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise Him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to Him; and in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, AMEN.
( Matthew 6:13; Daniel 9:18,19; 1 Chronicles 29:11-13; 1 Corinthians 14:16; Philippians 4:6; Revelation 22:20 )