I remember in English class and also in my typing class, learning the proper form for writing a friendly letter and a business letter. (Gee, with the world now texting info, having ZOOM or face time meetings, zipping a quick email, do letters even exist anymore, LOL).

Heading – includes date
Greeting –ends in a comma
Body- main content of letter
Complimentary closure – Sincerely, love, regards etc.
Signature line – Signed name

Funny how these things come to my mind, but when I finished praying the Lord’s Prayer, PROPER FORM popped into my head.

Greeting – Our Father, who art in Heaven…. We have addressed our Heavenly Father.

The body of this prayer is asking for His will to be done, for our needs to be met, for God’s forgiveness, and our deliverance.

The complimentary closure – Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory.

In Matthew 6 and Luke 11, we read that Jesus taught His disciples this prayer as the way to pray.  It is everything all in one prayer. It is the “proper form” including all necessary parts and it comes with His 100% approval as THE WAY to pray.

The verses in Matthew, leading up to the Lord’s Prayer, are part of Jesus’ conversation with His disciples:

Matthew 6: 5-8,  “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.  But whenever 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.
“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that 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.”

Most believers know the Lord’s Prayer by memory.  Are you sometimes in a quandary about how to pray? What should you say? How do you address our Lord? You are in your PROPER FORM by praying the Lord’s Prayer.  Not by rote, but with attention to the meaning woven in the form.  It’s perfect.  God loves you unconditionally and will always listen if it is your silent plea, your sighs and your heartfelt offering of His PROPER FORM prayer.

Jill