Prayer - Drawing Near To God | Part 2 | The Lord's Prayer

Prayer is not a religious obligation. It is about aligning our hearts with God's will. James 4:8 promises that when we come closer to God, He comes closer to us.

In Part 2 of "Prayer - Drawing Near to God,” Duane Sheriff explores Jesus' model for prayer found in the Lord's Prayer. This "four-by-four" pattern starts with a vertical focus on God, His name, His Kingdom, and His will, then turns to our needs, forgiveness, temptation, and deliverance.

To pray effectively, we need to know who God is and who we are to Him. We come to God as His children, trusting in Jesus. When we start by focusing on God—His character, His desires, and His Kingdom—we prepare our hearts before bringing our own needs to Him.

Prayer is not about pleading with God or trying to get Him to agree with our plans. It is about letting our hearts and desires match His will. As we ask for our daily needs, forgive others, face temptation, and deal with evil, we learn to rely on God's grace rather than our own efforts. When we focus on God first, the rest of our prayers start to make sense.