Youth · Day 1 of 7
Talk to Your Father
Read: Matthew 6:5-15 (KJV)
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Read the whole chapter ›What it means
Jesus starts His teaching on prayer by warning against putting on a show. In His day, some people prayed loudly on street corners so others would notice how spiritual they were. Today the temptation looks different, but at its core it is the same: we care about how we look. We curate our feeds, filter our photos, and sometimes even turn our faith into a highlight reel. Jesus says real prayer happens in the 'closet,' a private place where there is no audience except your Father. That word matters. Jesus teaches you to begin with 'Our Father.' You are not filing a complaint with a distant manager or trying to impress a judge. You are talking to a Father who already knows what you need before you ask. The Lord's Prayer is less a script to recite and more a pattern to follow: honor God, want His will, ask for what you need today, confess and forgive, and ask for help against temptation. Notice how practical it is. Daily bread. Forgiveness. Strength. God cares about the ordinary stuff of your day. You do not need fancy words or a perfect routine. You need an honest heart and a few quiet minutes. Start there today.
Key verse
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Matthew 6:6 (KJV)
Journal it
- Where is a quiet 'closet' place in your day where you could pray without distractions?
- Do you ever feel pressure to look more spiritual (or less spiritual) than you really are? Why?
- Using the Lord's Prayer as a pattern, write out your own prayer in your own words.
Write your answers in a notebook or the notes app on your phone.