Prayer, as commanded by God, holds profound purpose and benefit for us, primarily on a spiritual level. God instructs us to pray to Him, indicating that it is meaningful and helpful, regardless of whether our specific requests are fulfilled. The essence of prayer lies in fostering an intimate, eternal relationship with our Father and Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, despite the vast differences in our natures. This relationship, akin to that of a loving, authoritative Father to His obedient children, prioritizes His will and purposes above our own, as exemplified by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane when He submitted to God's will over His own. Prayer is not merely a tool to obtain things from God; approaching it with such a motive works against His purpose of instilling in us His giving, outgoing character. It is but one facet of a broader spiritual relationship, and its effectiveness hinges on aligning the entirety of our lives with God's will. Furthermore, prayer demands faith—true confidence in God's goodness toward us. A Christian praying in faith trusts that his petitions are heard and answered for his ultimate good, accepting God's decision with contentment, knowing that He determines what is best for eternal life and glory in His Kingdom. Thus, to those who know God, prayer is a vital means of communication that deepens our connection with Him, ensuring that all things work for the good of those chosen to share in His loving relationship.

Prayer is an intrinsic part of the religion revealed in Scripture, serving as a vital means of communication between God's people and the Lord of all. The purpose of prayer, as demonstrated through various examples, encompasses humbly requesting mercy and aid from the God of heaven and earth, covering a wide range of subjects, attitudes, and circumstances. Jesus, addressing the confusion of His disciples amidst hypocritical public prayers and rote memorizations of His time, provides guidance on the true essence of prayer. He offers a model prayer not for mindless recitation, but as an outline for deeper, personal conversations with the Father in heaven, emphasizing frequent and private communion with God. Jesus sets an example of frequent prayer, often seeking solitude in the wilderness or rising early before dawn to speak with His Father, even praying all night before significant decisions. He instructs His disciples to pray always, making it a consistent part of worship, and encourages them to ask the Father in His name for their needs, assuring them of a loving response. He advises against the insincere practices of praying publicly for human approval or using vain repetitions, instead urging genuine, one-on-one conversations with God in a private setting, treating Him as a real Person who desires a true relationship. In His model prayer, Jesus outlines broad principles focusing primarily on the Father Himself, with praise and honor acknowledging His holiness and power as the Almighty Sovereign. The prayer highlights the goal of every Christian—the Kingdom of God—as the culmination of His purpose for humanity, urging cooperation in His will. It also addresses personal needs, including daily sustenance, forgiveness, and assistance against trials and satan's opposition, recognizing human frailty and the need for constant physical and spiritual support. While not covering every situation, this model prioritizes God, His Kingdom, and doing His will, fostering spiritual maturity in prayer and aligning lives with the Savior's example.

Prayer, at its most basic, is communication from human beings toward God, emphasizing an earnest request or entreaty. It is the means of speaking one on one to the great God of all the universe. Jesus Christ commands us to make prayer part of our Christian routine, instructing us to pray always and to ask the Father for our daily bread each day. From His perspective, prayer is an integral part of the Christian walk, as He frequently prayed to His Father. Contrary to the basic idea of prayer as merely asking God for things, Jesus' model prayer reveals deeper purposes. It begins with acknowledging and praising God for His holiness and perfect character, fostering a humble and deferential attitude before the Most High. Praying "Your kingdom come" expresses solidarity with God as He works out His plan of salvation, recommitting us daily to His purpose and reminding us of our goal of eternal life in His Kingdom with the perfect moral character of our Savior. This orients our lives in the proper direction. Jesus also instructs us to pray "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," which is a statement of belief and submission to God's will, desiring that He accomplish His purpose. If we believe what we are saying and avoid vain repetitions, we rise from prayer with a submissive attitude toward God, determined to fulfill His will in every thought, word, and activity. The benefits of prayer, as shown in Jesus' teaching, are immediate, personal, and primarily spiritual. It focuses Christians on what is truly important—our personal relationship with God—reminding us in every session that the almighty and holy God is in charge, has everything under control, and is headed in the right direction. We affirm our commitment to His great plan of salvation for all eternity. Done right, time spent speaking with God orients or reorients us toward Him and His work, strengthening and preparing us for the day ahead. Avoiding prayer does a grave disservice to ourselves and our Christian growth, signaling that other things are more important than God and weakening the state of our hearts. If our prayer life is foundering, we must right the ship with sincere, fervent, and regular prayer, trusting God and prioritizing our relationship with Him to bring us safely to port.

Prayer serves as a vital form of communication from a subject to the Sovereign, where the former seeks aid from the latter, much like supplicants approaching a king's throne for a boon. It aligns with the exhortation to let requests be made known to God, emphasizing the act of humbly beseeching the Most High for help. Jesus instructs that prayer should begin by addressing God as Our Father in heaven, highlighting the reverential nature of this conversation and identifying the Father as the Receiver of our petitions. This salutation sets the proper frame of mind for the requester, reminding us of the unique relationship shared with God as His chosen spiritual children, capable of effective communication through His Spirit. The use of "our" in addressing God underscores that converted Christians are a special people to Him, granted an exclusive Father-child relationship, distinct from His other creations. This relationship mirrors that of a human child with a father, where God cares for His children, providing what they need to thrive in their spiritual growth from birth to maturity. Jesus assures that whatever is asked of the Father in His name will be given, so that joy may be full. Addressing God as "in heaven" lifts our focus from earthly concerns to heavenly perspectives, inspiring a concentration on spiritual matters. It reminds us of our true position, seated with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and points to our responsibilities as His children to live godly lives and witness His way before the world. This heavenly distinction encourages us to seek a better, heavenly country, taking on its characteristics as we model them in our lives. Thinking on these elements as we begin our prayers helps establish the right mindset to communicate effectively with our heavenly Father.