Prayer is the coming toward God on the basis of His grace, knowing that we have full acceptance with God irrespective of what we have done. (Jack Hayford)  Prayer must be led by the Holy Spirit.  When Jesus was on earth, His disciples asked to learn how to pray.  Jesus gave them the Lord’s Prayer.  Many of us often recite this prayer, but let us look closer at how it can apply to competition in the rodeo arena. (Matthew 6:9-13)
 

Our Father who art in Heaven
 

Almighty God, you are in heaven and we are on earth—and you are our Father.  Our Father who comforts, encourages, frees, and protects us.  We need you in every area of our life.  We ask that your presence will be at this rodeo.
 

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Hallowed be Thy Name,
 

Your name, is the name above all names.  There is power in the name of Jesus.  We want men, women, boys, and girls to be drawn to you.  We want Your name and Your name alone to be lifted high—to be honored in the rodeo arena and in the arena of life—that You might be glorified and praised.
 

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Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
 

We know God, that You do not play favorites; and therefore we do not ask for special favor in the arena. (Romans 2:11)  But we know Lord, that if given the chance, Satan will oppose everything you want to do.  We do know, O God, that you are a fair and just God.  Everything in heaven is done fairly.  Therefore, we ask that by the power of your finger, you would hold back Satan, and that everything done at this rodeo would be done fairly. (Luke 11: 14-27)  We pray that every cowboy and cowgirl that is called by your name will have a fair chance.

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We have prepared and practiced to perfect the ability you have given us—we don’t want to waste these opportunities.  We ask Lord, in your will, that each cowboy would be free to compete to the best of their ability. (John 8:36)  We pray they would not be hindered by discouragement, distractions, or disease. (Hebrews 12:1)  The Bible tells us that you will protect your people.  We ask for your protection as we compete and travel.  The Bible tells us that if you are our refuge, you will command your angels to guard us concerning our ways. (Psalms 5:11-12;  91:10-11)
 

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Give us this day our daily bread.
 

Lord, daily bread can mean two things.  The spiritual nourishment that we get by abiding in you. (John 15:5)  We ask Lord that every time we compete in the arena we will be filled with your strength, peace, power, confidence, excellence, and love.
 

Lord, we need physical food.  Rodeo is the way you have given us to provide for our families.  The Bible tells us that if we seek first the kingdom of God and your righteousness, all that we need will be added unto us. (Matthew 6:33)  We thank you for this promise—if we do our part, seeking you and your righteousness, that you will do yours—filling us with all we need.

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We ask Lord that you would bless us.  We ask for your help.  Your Word says that you will help all that call on you.  (Jeremiah 33:3)  Let others see that we are strengthened by You, that they too might come to depend upon You.
 

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Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
 

We repent Lord, we want to turn from all of our sins.  The Bible tells us that the most important thing is to love and enjoy You.  Forgive me Lord, for not loving and enjoying You as I should.  Forgive me for not enjoying the life that you have given me.  Forgive me for forgetting that you have given the incredible blessing of working at a job I love.  Teach us Lord how not to strive as we compete, but rather to enjoy the intensity and thrill of rodeo competition.

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Next Lord, forgive me for my selfishness and self-centeredness.  When I am winning, I don’t want to swell with pride.  When I loose, I don’t want to be jealous and critical.  Help me to love those that are here on the rodeo trail with me.  I want to love them the way that you love them.  I want to accept them just as You do.  I hate it, when I am jealous of the blessings You pour on my friends.  Forgive me and fill me with more of your love for others.
 

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Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
 

The Bible says we are tempted by our own evil desires. (James 1:14)  Teach me to recognize those evil desires and to repent of them immediately.  The Bible also tells us that the enemy, Satan, walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)  Deliver us from him.  Let us avoid his traps and schemes. (Psalm 119:150 and 2 Corinthians 2:11)  Jesus, you defeated the devil when you died on the cross.  In fact, you made a public spectacle of him.  (Colossians 2:15)   Free us from the snares and strongholds of the enemy. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)  Let us be aware that the enemy wants to steal your blessings from us.  (John 10:10)  Satan, whatever you have stolen from us, by the Word of God, it says that when your schemes are found out you must return what you have stolen and 7 times as much.   Satan, in the mighty name of Jesus, we command you to return seven-fold all that you have stolen from us. (Luke 10:19-20, Proverbs 6:30-31)  Your word tells us that we live in a spiritual warfare zone and we are called your soldiers. (Ephesians 6: 10-17)  We need you to show us how to use spiritual weapons of prayer, praise, and fasting to defeat Satan’s hindrance in the rodeo arena. (Isaiah 58)  We pray the blood of Jesus over this rodeo arena. (Revelations 12:11)
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For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Ahmen
 

Lord may you be exalted and glorified in our entire life.  May we know that it is by Your power that we breathe and move.  (Zechariah 4:6)  In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Ahmen