Why Pray?
A. We pray because our Lord prayed: "He walked away, perhaps a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed this prayer: 'Father, if you are willing, please take away this cup of horror from me. But I want your will, not mine.' Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthen him, for he was in such agony of spirit that he broke into a sweat of blood, with great drops failing to the ground as he prayed more and more earnestly. At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples - only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief" (Luke 22:41-45).
B. Prayer gives us the opportunity for confession.
C. Prayer brings discipline to our lives.
D. Prayer drawers us closer to our Lord.
E. Praying for others keeps us from selfishness.
F. Prayer helps us to love those we have difficulty loving.
G. Prayer keeps us from disobedience to God and temptations. "God . . . will provide the way of escape." (1 Corinthians 10:13, NASB)
"Pray God that you will not fall when you are tempted." (Luke 22:46)
How to Pray
"He knelt down and began to pray." (Luke 22:41, NASB)
A. "Don't recite the same prayer over and over as the heathen do, who think prayers are answered only by repeating them again and again. Remember, your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" (Matthew 6:7-8).
B. A Helpful Reminder:
A - Adore God
C - Confess to God
T - Thank God for everything
S - Supplication and submission unto God
C. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8, NASB)
What to Pray For
A. Make a list of all needs:
* Family (children, in-laws etc)
* Personal (finances, problems)
* Friends
* Church (pastor and his family, church leaders)
* Country (city, primeminister, etc)
* School (teachers, principal, students)
* Husband (work, etc)
* Self (home, anger, organising, etc)
* Missionaries
Delegate the above to a day of the week, Monday through Saturday (use tabs).
B. Sunday's tab will be used for sermon outlines and prayer requests.
1. Prayer requests will be added to the above categories.
2. Date prayer requests and date God's answers. Answers may be "wait" ("not now"), "no", or "yes". Always give thanks.
C. Let the children give prayer requests. "All things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive" (Matthew 21:22, NASB)
When to Pray
* Morning
* Noon
* Evening
* Meals
* Bedtime
Where to Pray
"When you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you." (Matthew 6:6, NASB)
A. Home - in the closet; while doing dishes, vacuuming, cleaning
B. In the car, while jogging, exercising, walking
C. With others - "Where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst" (Matthew 18:20, NASB)
1. Bible study groups
2. Women's prayer groups
3. With a girlfriend
4. On the phone with a friend
Wish Prayers
A. God already knows the desires of our hearts, and He wants us to ask Him for them. It's the attitude about those things that He is concerned about.
B. Check yourself by saying, "Lord, if it wouldn't be good for me to have this, then I really don't want it. But if it would be okay with You, I'll be very grateful and use it for Your glory."
C. Be prepared - God always answers. It may be an immediate "yes", a "wait awhile", an absolute "no," or "the timing is not right at present." Record these answers in your notebook by the item, and allow God to work in your life with His love in giving you what's best for your life. Remember to thank Him in all things. "Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20, NASB).
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