Matthew 6:5-15

"And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you , that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.

When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be honored.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done here on earth
just as it is in heaven
Give us our food for today,
and forgive us our sins,
just as we have forgiven those who have
sinned against us.
And don't let us yield to temptation
but deliver us from the evil one.

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996.