a format for prayer

Matthew 6:9-13

The key phrase of this passage is: "This, then, is how you should pray:" Besides the "greeting", the rest of the passage is a list of imperatives to God and yet the tone of the prayer is one of humility. Usually when we give imperatives, it suggests commands to be followed and implies that we are in a position to be obeyed. The classic example is the stop sign. The imperative is "stop" and the implication is that the law has authourity over me and my car and that it can make that commandment, it expects to be obeyed and that there will be consequences if I do not. Yet this prayer doesn't suggest that same master-servant relationship. In fact it is quite the opposite. I think the tone of humility comes from the tone of dependance. The essence of the prayer is, "Father, I can't do anything and you can do everything. I depend on you for bread, for forgiveness and for protection. I would like to make your name hallowed and to spread the impact of your kingdom and will but I can't even do that. I need your help."
I live my life in independence from God far too often. In fact, prayer is probably one of the hardest aspects of my Christian faith. I love to study the Bible, I love to serve but, prayer, for me, is difficult. I know that God is all in all and that without him I am nothing and can do nothing and yet I live my life as if I am everything and can do everything. I want to learn to pray and to be a man of prayer.