Category 6, The Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 98. What is prayer?

A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God,[200] for things agreeable to his will,[201] in the name of Christ,[202] with confession of our sins,[203] and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.[204]

Q. 99. What rule has God given for our direction in prayer?

A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer;[205] but the special rule of direction (our model) is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called the Lord’s Prayer.[206]

Q. 100. What does the preface of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?

A. The preface of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, Our Father which art in heaven, teaches us to draw near to God with all holy reverence[207] and confidence,[208] as children to a father,[209] able and ready to help us;[210] and that we should pray with and for others.[211]

Q. 101. What do we pray for in the first petition?

A. In the first petition, which is, Hallowed be Your Name, we pray that God would enable us, and others, to glorify him in all that whereby He makes Himself known;[212] and that He would dispose all things to His own glory.[213]

Q. 102. What do we pray for in the second petition?

A. In the second petition, which is, Your Kingdom come, we pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed;[214] and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced,[215] ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it;[216] and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.[217]

Q. 103. What do we pray for in the third petition?

A. In the third petition, which is, Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, we pray that God, by His grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to His will in all things,[218] as the angels do in heaven.[219]

Q. 104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

A. In the fourth petition, which is, Give us this day our daily bread, we pray that of God’s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy His blessing with them.[220]

Q. 105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?

A. In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, we pray that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins;[221] which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by His grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.[222]

Q. 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

A. In the sixth petition, which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin,[223] or support and deliver us when we are tempted.[224]

Q. 107. What does the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?

A. The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen, teaches us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only,[225] and in our prayers to praise Him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to Him;[226] and, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen.[227]

This organization mimics the earlier Heidelberg Catechism of the continental Reformed churches.