Introduction
Does it feel as if your prayers get stuck on the ceiling?
- the Scriptures reveal that prayer is an effective tool.
- Then why does it seem practically meaningless, and a waste of time?
Lord, teach us to pray.
Luke 11:1-4 NASB
1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”
2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say: `Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom comes.
3 `Give us each day our daily bread.
4 `And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation. ´”
Jesus prayed often
- everywhere and in every situation.
- while teaching crowds,
- before walking on water,
- before selecting His disciples,
- before feeding the 5,000,
- and even with His dying breath.
Prayer was the driving force of His life,
He sought out opportunities to get away from the busyness of life to pray.
Luke 5:15-16 NASB
15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
Even with large crowds of people waiting for His teaching and healing, Jesus took the time to get away and pray.
we often find ourselves lacking in this critical part of our spiritual life.
- too busy?
- doubtful in the power of prayer?
remember these three truths:
Colossians 4:2 NASB
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
Most people pray in these five ways:
1 Peter 5:7 NASB
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.Colossians 4:2 NASB
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
BELIEVE
James 1:6 NASB
But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
Doubt
It stalks its prey. It moves slowly, in the background, impossible to be seen or heard. Then, at just the right moment, it pounces and overtakes us. One critique causes us to lose confidence in our ability to do our job. One disagreement causes us to question friendships. Or one day without a miraculous sign from God leads us to doubt if He’s actually there.
God is not blown about by the wind. He is constant and steady even when we can’t feel Him.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NASB
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.
8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.
five prayer steps:
1. Praise.
- Count your blessings.
- Describe the powerful ways God is working on our behalf.
- Call Him by the powerful names the Bible uses Abba, Father, King of Kings, Creator, and Savior.
2. Thanks.
Thank God for the wonderful miracles and blessings He gave today and the ones He will give tomorrow.
3. Confession.
After thanksgiving, be honest with God. Tell Him about your struggles and your pain. If the words are too hard to speak, simply stay quiet. He knows what you’re going through.
4. Petition.
Now that you have begun to align your heart with God’s, make requests to Him. Share your needs and desires and lift up others as well.
5. Submission.
Seek God’s will, not your own. Ask that He shapes your heart to have the same desires that He does.
Keith stops at this point, but topics in the study continue with the following points:
CONFESSION, Battling Sin, VICTORIOUS LIVING, WORRY, PRAY FOR ANYTHING, The Lord’s prayer, PRAYER FOR OTHERS, PRAYING THE PSALMS, WHEN ALL SEEMS LOST, and PRAY CONTINUALLY.
Credits
We hope you’ve enjoyed these messages based on Prayer: The Lost Discipline That Will Change Your Life by Michael Ross.
If you’d like to know more about how rediscovering the lost discipline of prayer can change your life, purchase the book at our store:
http://store.backtothebible.org/prayer-p/12651.htmThat’s the end of this track, but there are many more to explore. Go take a look!
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