The Call to the Great Community 10
We Pray as Jesus Taught us to Pray!
“Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer” (Romans 12:12).
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10).
APPROACH PRAYER WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.
- Be real
“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full” (Matthew 6:5).
– Don’t try to impress others (or yourself!)
– Don’t try to impress God (for He knows you already, and He loves you!)
- Be relaxed
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).
- Be revealing
“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him”
(Matthew 6:7-8).
USE THE MODEL JESUS GAVE US
Matthew 6:9-13 “Pray, then, in this way…”
- PRAISE: I begin by expressing my love and adoration to God. Start by anchoring yourself in who He is and who you are in relationship to Him.
“Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name…” (v. 9b).
- PURPOSE: I commit myself to living a life of devotion to God’s will.
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven …” (v. 10).
Pray for God’s will to be done… in me… in my family… my church… my ministry… my job… my future… my city… the nation… the world.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
- PROVISION: I ask God to provide for needs.
“Give us this day our daily bread…” (v. 11).
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
“You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2).
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
- PARDON: I ask God to forgive my sins
“And forgive us our debts …” (v. 12a).
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24).
“He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion” (Proverbs 28:13).
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
- PEOPLE: I pray for other people.
“…as we also have forgiven our debtors” (v. 12b).
“Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering” (Matthew 5:23-24).
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men” (1 Timothy 2:1).
- PROTECTION: I ask for spiritual protection.
“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (v. 13a).
Believers face a spiritual battle every day! Satan wants to defeat you through temptation and fear. By praying for protection, you will have the confidence to face every situation during the day.
“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
- PRIORITIZATION: I recommit myself and my work to God.
“For yours is the kingdom and power and the glory forever. Amen” (v. 13b).
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Romans 12:1).
HOW TO BEGIN A DAILY DEVOTION TIME (QUIET TIME)
The Important Factors:
“In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” (Mark 1:35)
- SELECT A SPECIFIC TIME
The best time to have a quiet time is when I am at my best! Whatever time you set, be consistent!
- CHOOSE A SPECIAL PLACE
“And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him” (Luke 22:39).
- GATHER THE RESOURCES YOU’LL NEED
- A Bible – a good translation you can read and understand.
- A notebook or journal – to write down what the Lord speaks to you about, and to keep your prayer list. It is also good to keep you focused when other things come to your mind.
- Memory Cards for Scripture memorization.
- A Songbook – if you want to sing.
- Study tools that you helps you understand and apply what you are learning.
- BEGIN WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDES
- Reverence
“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).
- Expectancy
“Open my eyes, that I may behold; Wonderful things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18).
- Willingness to Obey
“If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself” (John 7:17).
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Galatians 6:9).
A PRAYER OF COMMITMENT
“Father, I realize that I was created to have fellowship with You. Thank you for making this privilege possible through Jesus’ death and resurrection. I know that daily fellowship with You is to be the most important thing in my life. I now want to commit myself to spending time every day with You in a set apart quiet time of Bible intake and prayer. I’m trusting in Your strength to help me be consistent and for my whole life to be in devotion to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
RESOURCES: