Meeting with God outline
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’” Luke 11:1-4 (also reference Matthew 6:9-13).
Meeting with God Outline
Jesus’ disciples observed Him meeting with God regularly. Naturally, their question was “Teach us how to pray!”
Jesus did not offer them some smug answer like, “Well, that’s impossible, I’m God the Son and you’re not so you can’t meet with God like I do.” Profoundly, Jesus answered, “When you pray, say…” This means you/we can meet with God!
The word for prayer used in these passages carries the meaning, “an exchange of wishes”. In other words, toward God we pray and He responds back! We look up and He looks down. The disciples thought this was too good to be true, too. Thankfully, one of the disciples was bold enough to ask, “Teach us how to pray!”
Before the outline Jesus gives, notice in the first verse of Luke 11:1 that Jesus prayed in a certain place and finished. Where and when will you meet with God on most days? What about the other days when your routine is a little different?
How do we hear God’s voice in prayer? Primarily, it is through God’s Word, the Bible. The Bible is God’s voice written down for us to know Him as well as to know ourselves as He sees us. Make or choose a Bible reading plan like the two year plan our church uses or another plan offered on the Holy Bible app, “youversion”. God also directs our minds and hearts according to His will, not through questionable feelings but through faith while focused on Him. This outline helps us do just that, be exceedingly focused on God, so we can pray… well!
Now, to the outline. The outline Jesus gives is powerful…
Meeting with God outline
GOD’S NAME PRAISED: Father, hallowed be Your Name.
Start with praising God for what you have noticed about Him in the Scripture you are reading. Praise God for His faithfulness to you in the last day and hours. Give Him the glory He deserves. Set Him apart from the rest – hallow Him.
GOD’S PURPOSES ADVANCED: Your kingdom come.
Set your day and your plans before the Lord. Ask for wisdom in what you have ahead. Seek God for what to say or who
He’d like you to help out each day. The Lord knows you. He has purpose for you. Learn about it from Him.
OUR NEEDS MET: Give us each day our daily bread.
Here is where we ask God for supply – strength needed to do His will and for daily provisions. And notice the pronoun is
“our” … so pray also for your loved ones and others, the supply they need. Ask the God who owns it all for His supply.
OUR SINS FORGIVEN: And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Our hearts are now set on the Lord so we now desire for Him to not only forgive us but help us repent from sin. Confess
sin knowing the penalty was paid by Jesus on the cross. Confess for others, too. Forgive as you have been forgiven.
OUR PATHS PROTECTED: And lead us not into temptation.
We have the same enemy that God has, the devil, and his tempting ways, but Jesus has disarmed him. Pray God would
deliver us and others from temptation. Pray for overall protection from temptation in your life and others lives.
Some practical ideas:
- Jot down these headings in a journal and every day write a sentence or two under each.
- Use the outline throughout the day, praying through it during a trip to the restroom or at a stop light.
- When you are in decision paralysis or in a dry spell spiritually, get away with the Lord for a few hours and use this outline but spend more time on each section with the Lord.
- I know one person who draws a cross beside, ‘our sins forgiven’. You could draw a shield beside or instead of, ‘our paths protected’. What might be your mark for ‘God’s Name praised,’ ‘God’s purposes advanced’ and ‘our need met’? Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. James 4:8
