Meeting guide · command 16

How to Pray In Secret

Pray for the Father’s name, kingdom, daily provision, forgiveness, protection, and deliverance—and become a forgiving people.

Read

Read the complete passage aloud.

Primary passage

Matthew 6:9–14

9 Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’ 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

World English Bible

Luke

Luke 11:2–4

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”

World English Bible

When the disciples ask how to pray, Jesus gives a shared pattern that begins with the Father and His kingdom, then gathers ordinary needs, reconciled relationships, and spiritual dependence.

Discuss

Listen carefully to what Jesus says.

  1. What does Jesus command?
  2. What does this passage reveal about Him?
  3. Where do we resist this command?
  4. What is difficult or unclear?
  5. Which request in Jesus’ prayer is easiest for you to pray, which is hardest, and what does that reveal about your present desires?

Practice

Choose one specific act of obedience.

Pray through each movement of Jesus’ prayer slowly this week. After asking for forgiveness, name one person toward whom you need to begin a truthful, wise step of forgiveness.

Return

Come back and discuss what happened.

Which part of the prayer shaped your week most, and what step toward dependence, forgiveness, or resistance to temptation followed?

Close together

Pray. Then prepare to teach.

Pray

Our Father, hallow your name in us. Let your kingdom come, give what we need today, forgive us as we forgive, and keep us from temptation and evil.

Teach

Teach the prayer as a pattern that forms communal priorities, not merely words to recite; distinguish forgiveness from excusing harm or instantly restoring trust.