“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:5-13, NRSV)
What is pray?
This seems to be a subject we all get hung up on. We make it out to be the stringing together of the right words at the right time so that everything will be made right in the world.
Each week most of us who attend worship recite the Lord’s Prayer, and why?
Here in Matthew it says Jesus said, “Pray then in this way:” Notice He did not say, “pray these words.”
Just don’t heap up empty phrases, and big words. Don’t make yourself look better than you are or try to make it look like you know all the right things to say.
Prayer is about hanging out with Jesus. Prayer is about a conversation you have with God. Nothing more.
So hang with Jesus, and talk about what’s happening in your world, and what you can do for Him.
aSacredRebel 
Notice He did not say, “pray these words.”
So if he didn’t say that, why do we “pray these words” each week?
That is a great question. I am not sure how/why this started