Whilst prayer should always be specific, it can be limited to an isolated petition, ' or it can be "complete" and all-embracing. Consider the Lord's instruction in that regard. When the disciples approached him with the request: "Teach us to pray," he delivered unto them what has since been termed the Lord's Prayer. The prayer is a model of compression. It covers all necessary subjects, and yet condenses them with the
greatest economy of words.

It was not given to be mechanically repeated without thought or feeling; it is not a form of words to be slavishly followed on every occasion, but it was provided as a general guideline to prayer. "After this manner, pray ye," the Lord declared. It is significant that the Apostles do not refer to it again, and as far as we know, never recited it.

But it provides excellent guidance for effective prayer. It is useful to take the various headings of it, and use them as the basis of personal approach to the Father.

First of all, the prayer can be divided into two parts. The first section concerns Yahweh; the second section concerns man. This is the proper order of things: first God; afterwards us.

It is a prayer dominated by love. It is compounded of six requests. The first three speak of our love for the Father, in that we desire the hallowing of His name; the coming of His Kingdom; the manifestation of His will in the earth. It emphasises His exalted position, and our dependent state.

Thus we pray: Our Father Who art in heaven: Petition one-Hallowed be Thy name. Petition two-Thy Kingdom come. Petition three-Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

The second three requests speak of our assurance of His love towards us. Petition one-Give us this day our daily bread (spiritual as well as material). Petition two-Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them who trespass against us. Petition three-Lead us not into trials, but deliver us from evil.

It concludes with a threefold statement that affirms our recognition of Yahweh's ability to grant the requests of the prayer: "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen!"

The Lord Jesus Christ thus invited the Apostles to address Yahweh as their Father, and we have the same privilege. In doing so, we acknowledge our dependence upon Him as children, and His wisdom to grant or deny those petitions that we ask of Him.

What a wonderful privilege it is that we are invited to commune with Him in prayer. By its means we are able to bridge the illimitable distances that physically separate us from God. He is above all creation, so that we cannot fully appreciate His might, glory and power. Yet by prayer we are able to commune with Him. David gave expression to this wonderful privilege which we should strive to appreciate and use:

"He made known His ways unto Moses,
His acts unto the children of Israel. Yahweh is merciful and gracious;
Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide;
Neither will He keep His anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins;
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west,
So far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a Father pitieth His children,
So the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame;
He remembereth that we are dust."
(Psalm 103:7-14).

Let us ponder the greatness of this privilege and learn to use it to the fullest extent.