We come together in unity, lifting our hearts to the Lord as we reflect on the profound truth of Matthew 6:9-13, where our Savior Jesus Christ teaches us how to pray. This model prayer begins not with our needs, but with the glory and will of our Heavenly Father—"Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come! Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." This is a powerful reminder that our first priority in prayer and in life must be God’s kingdom and His righteousness, trusting that He will provide all we need as we seek Him above all else.
The Lord continues in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." This is not merely a suggestion but a divine promise. When we align our hearts with God’s purposes, when we surrender our desires to His will, and when we trust Him to provide, He faithfully meets our needs. Yet how often do we reverse this order, placing our wants and worries before His kingdom? We must examine our hearts and ask: Are we truly seeking God’s will first, or are we allowing the cares of this world to distract us from His purpose?
Let us pray together in this truth:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble and contrite hearts, acknowledging that You alone are holy, sovereign, and worthy of all praise. Your name is above every name, and Your kingdom is eternal. Lord, we confess that too often we have sought our own desires before seeking Your will. Forgive us for the times we have prioritized our comfort, our plans, or our fears over Your kingdom. Today, we surrender our lives anew to You. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done in our lives, our families, our churches, and our nations, just as it is in heaven.
Father, we trust You to provide for our daily needs—our bread, our shelter, our relationships, and all that we require. But we ask that You would help us to remember that these things are not the ultimate goal. You are our Provider, our Sustainer, and our Peace. Teach us to rest in Your provision, knowing that when we seek You first, all else will be added unto us.
Lord, we also ask for Your forgiveness, just as we forgive those who have wronged us. Search our hearts and reveal any bitterness, resentment, or unforgiveness that we may be harboring. Give us the strength to release these burdens to You and to extend the same grace and mercy that You have so freely given us. Guard our hearts from the temptation to hold onto offense, and fill us with Your love and compassion for others.
Lead us not into temptation, Father, but deliver us from evil. We live in a world that is broken and filled with snares, but we know that You are greater than any force of darkness. Strengthen us to stand firm in Your truth, to resist the lies of the enemy, and to walk in the light of Your Word. Protect our minds, our hearts, and our spirits from anything that would draw us away from You.
For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. We declare this truth over our lives today. You alone are worthy of all honor, all praise, and all dominion. We submit ourselves to Your lordship, trusting that as we seek You first, You will guide our steps and fulfill Your purposes in and through us.
Lord, we also lift up those who may be reading this prayer and struggling to understand the importance of seeking You first. Some may not yet know You as their Savior, and we pray that Your Holy Spirit would draw them to Jesus Christ, the only name by which we can be saved. For it is written in Acts 4:12, "There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved." We pray that they would come to know the love, grace, and redemption found only in Jesus, and that they would surrender their lives to Him.
For those who are believers but are wrestling with fear, anxiety, or doubt, remind them of Your faithfulness. Help them to cast their cares upon You, for You care for them (1 Peter 5:7). May they experience Your peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
And for those who are struggling in their relationships, marriages, or friendships, we pray that You would bring healing, restoration, and godly wisdom. Remind them that marriage is a sacred covenant between one man and one woman, designed to reflect Christ’s love for the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33). For those who are unmarried, encourage them to pursue relationships that honor You, with the goal of finding a godly spouse who shares their faith. Guard their hearts from the temptation of fornication or any sexual immorality, for Your Word is clear: "Flee sexual immorality! 'Every sin that a man does is outside the body,' but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body" (1 Corinthians 6:18). Help them to walk in purity and to honor You with their bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Father, we also rebuke any spirit of division, strife, or confusion that may be at work in the lives of Your people. Your Word tells us that "God is not a God of confusion, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33). Bring unity to Your Church, Lord, and help us to stand firm in the truth of Your Word, even when the world around us seeks to distort it.
We declare that Your kingdom is advancing, and we are Your ambassadors, called to proclaim Your truth and to live lives that reflect Your love and holiness. Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to be bold witnesses for You, sharing the gospel with those who are lost and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ to walk in obedience to Your Word.
Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayer. We trust in Your goodness, Your faithfulness, and Your perfect timing. May our lives be a living testimony to Your glory, and may we always seek You first in all things. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
God's Kingdom 1st 
Then Our Needs Matt 6:9-13, cf, Matt 6:33 
"Pray, then, in this way: 
. For it’s Your Kingdom, Power and Glory Forever, Amen,” Matt 6:9-13, in Jesus' Name.
