The Starting Point

I have been challenged in many ways recently to grow in the area of prayer, most significantly from Ephesians 6 in a study on the armor of God. I noticed that prayer was not listed in the armor, but my wife pointed out that Paul talks about prayer extensively immediately following the list of armor. Later, I sensed God saying that "prayer is the battle" and have had this confirmed in a number of ways. Just this week I was thinking that Jesus's answer to the apostles' request to "Lord, teach us to pray" was what we call the Lord's prayer. I recognized that since this is what He concluded He needed to teach His closest associates about prayer, I should hold it it higher esteem and study it deeply to understand it better. Thus, I begin a study of The Lord's Prayer and my friend Michael Weiss will be joining me in this. Feel free to add your input also if you would like. I will primarily be looking at Matthew 6: 5-15, shown here in the Modern King James Version:

5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.
7 But when you pray, do not babble vain words, as the nations. For they think that in their much speaking they shall be heard.
8 Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him.
9 Therefore pray in this way: Our Father, who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread;
12 and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.