The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q99. What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer?
A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us
in prayer;[1] but the special
rule of direction is
that form of prayer which Christ taught His
disciples, commonly called The Lord’s Prayer.[2]
[1] 1 John 5:14; [2] Matthew 6:9–13 cf. Luke 11:2–4.
In His great Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus instructed His disciples on many subjects, including that of prayer. Apart from warning them against being ostentatious and repetitious in the prayer, He gave them a pattern of prayer to follow when He says:
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen (Mt 6:9–13).
The fact that the Lord did not intend this prayer to be used like a mantra as
done in some circles is obvious, both from the fact that He had warned against
vain repetitions (v. 7), and also from the fact that all other prayers in the
Bible, including the Lord’s prayers (e.g., Jn 17) were heartfelt outpouring of
the soul. This is not to say that the Lord’s Prayer cannot be recited as it is,
if it is used with understanding. But it means that the Lord’s Prayer is
primarily given as a special rule or pattern for us to shape our prayers,
especially as it pertains to the substance of our prayers.
Apart from the Lord’s Prayer, it must be noted that the whole Word of God is
generally useful to teach us how to pray in that it contains not only plenty of
matter for prayer, but abounds with many heartfelt expressions which we may
adopt in our own prayers. Indeed, there are many recorded prayers and manner of
prayer which we may also emulate, such as the prayers of Eliezer (Gen 24:12);
of Jacob (Gen 28:20–22; 32:9–12); of Gideon (Jdg 6:22, 36, 39); of Hannah (1
Sam 1:10; 2:1–10); of David (2 Sam 7:18–29; Psalm 51, etc.); of Solomon (1 Kgs
8:22–53); of Hezekiah (2 Kgs 20:2–4); of Jabez (1 Chr 4:10); of Ezra (Ezr
9:5–15); of Nehemiah (Neh 1:5–11; 2:4); of Jeremiah (Jer 32:16–25; etc.); of
Daniel (Dan 9:3–19); of Jonah (Jon 2:1–9); of Habakkuk (Hab 1:2–4; 12–13,
etc.); of Paul (Eph 1:15–23, etc.); etc.