Can I Really Talk to God?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks about prayer by first describing what it should not be. Some prayed publicly “that they may be seen of men” (6:5). Others used “vain repetitions,” assuming many words would get God's attention (6:7). Jesus calls His followers away from both performance and empty formula.

Instead, He invites them to pray to “thy Father which is in secret” (6:6). Prayer is not a show for an audience or a technique for pressuring God. Jesus says the Father already knows what we need before we ask (6:8). That does not make prayer pointless; it makes prayer relational. We speak to Someone who is attentive and good.

Jesus then gives a model, often called the Lord's Prayer. It begins with honor: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (6:9). Hallowed means treated as holy. Next comes the kingdom: asking that God's rule and will be done on earth as in heaven. Then daily need: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Then forgiveness: receiving forgiveness and extending it to others. Finally, deliverance: asking God to lead us away from temptation and rescue us from evil.

These movements are not a formula that controls God, and saying the words faster or more often does not guarantee a particular outcome. They are a shape for honest conversation—a way of putting God first, bringing real needs, dealing with relationships, and asking for help.

Many people feel they do not know how to pray, or that their words are too plain. Jesus' model is short and simple. You can talk to God at a kitchen table, on a commute, or in a quiet moment before bed. Start where you are, in your own words.