Are you struggling in prayer to forgive those who have hurt you? Are you unable to pray the Lord’s prayer and mean it? Then you should pray and fast. There are issues in life that require a fast, and struggling to forgive one another probably requires a fast.

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Matthew 6:16 "Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

Matthew 6:17-18 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

This prayer fast isn’t for show. Jesus mentioned prayer fasting right after explaining how to pray the Lord’s prayer. This was intentional. First, He wants to set you free to actually mean it when you pray the Lord’s prayer each day. This is not ash on your forehead fasting. You’re not suppose to make sure everyone sees you all gloomy and weak from lack of food. If you are just trying to be seen then that’s all the reward you get, and you’ll still struggle to forgive one another. Second, Prayer and fasting go together. Fasting isn’t really fasting if you don’t pray. Third, This is a focused prayer fast where you surrender and do what God asks of you in order to have break through with the Lord’s prayer. Maybe it’s food. Maybe it’s something you don’t have self-control in like video games, or listening to music. You want to pray and ask God what He wants you to fast. Fourth, ask God how He wants you to pray in order to see real freedom in your life.

Evaluate the decisions you make in the Lord’s prayer. Which of these are too hard to actually do? Do you need help? Forgiving those who hurt you is almost always one of the hardest things to do. Forgiving your enemies requires help from God. Below is the list of decisions you are asked to make in the Lord’s prayer.

Prayer coaching for the Lord’s prayer: Ask Jesus to show you how to pray for each one of these in order to actually accomplish them.

You honor yourself every day. “Jesus, I deny my own honor to make my own decisions. I give honor to God the Father by letting Him make the decisions He wants for me. Jesus, help me to daily include God the Father in my decision making out of honor for Him.”

You are the king of your own kingdom. “Jesus, humble me, so that I give God’s kingdom the right to rule over me each day. Because You Jesus are the King over the kingdom of God, Help me to submit to You each day.”

You follow your own plan every day. “Jesus, I surrender my plans for my life. I give You, Jesus, permission to do what You want in every area of my life. I place You on the throne in everything. I want to stand in Your presence always and see You always on the throne ruling my life. I surrender each decision to You and want to ask You about everything. Reveal Your plans for me and remove my boredom every time You talk to me! Change me forever.”

You pursue your own food each day. “Jesus, humble me. Provide for me in Your kingdom. I give You permission to give me what I need each day. Bless me with Your active involvement in providing for me.”

You have a debt that is hidden in the dark. “Jesus, forgive me today. Help me to practice the truth every day, and ask You to forgive me every day, knowing Your answer will always be “Yes.” I choose to bring my mistakes into the light for You to see. Help to not hide my sin from You.”

Others have a debt owed to you too. “Jesus, I forgive those who have hurt me in the same way You forgive me. Help me to always say “yes” to those who ask me to forgive them. Even if they never ask me to forgive them, I choose to forgive them because You are asking me to forgive them.”

“God don’t give me over to the other side. Set me free from evil.” “God, take me off the fence and bring me to Your side. I don’t want to be deceived by half truths. I don’t want both sides. I don’t want to experience being tempted by evil on the fence or be on the other side bound by evil. I want to be free from evil and live on Your side.”

Fast and pray to be heard by God the Father. Jesus’ example of prayer is for you to be heard by God the Father. Jesus again mentions the reward of seeking out God the Father in secret. In your mind and heart is where you meet with God the Father in secret. He will make His thoughts be known to you there and will help you separate the thoughts that are not from Him. He’ll show you how to pray and really mean what you pray in the Lord’s prayer.

Prayer coaching: “Jesus, May you help me to fast and pray in the right way to be seen by God the Father in secret. I Want the reward of meeting with You in secret.”