In witnessing Jesus' earthly ministry, the disciples didn't need to ask Jesus how to help the poor or how to minister to the sick and needy. But given how difficult it can be to maintain a consistent and purposeful prayer life, it shouldn't be a surprise to us that the disciples asked "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." (Luke 11:1). Continuing in the model prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) He taught his disciples:
Give us today our daily bread: This acknowledges our daily dependence on God, the one who provides everything we need, every single day. By asking for daily provision, we are asking Him to provide not what we want, but only what we need---no more and no less---each and every day.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors: Here we are asking God to extend his mercy and forgiveness for our sins--a promise that He made in Scripture and fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice on the cross. However, we are also asking for forgiveness only to the same degree that we are willing to extend mercy and forgiveness to others. This part of the model prayer is a stark reminder of how much we can hinder our prayer life if we are unforgiving toward others.
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