WHAT IS PRAYER?
GOAL: To clearly define prayer and its purpose.
KEY SCRIPTURE: Luke 11:1
Prayer: One of our greatest blessings and one of our biggest struggles.
Prayer is one of the greatest blessings God offers, but it is also a source of frustration and guilt.
However, a life filled with prayer is a life of great blessing. Prayer should project the full range of human emotions, from exuberant joy to frantic despair. Prayer gives strength.
The Bible teaches that we serve a God who is simply looking for opportunities to pour out his blessings on us (Leviticus 26:3-6; Deuteronomy 28:2-6,12; II Samuel 12:7-9).
God listens for your unique voice every day. We can see the theme that God is ready and willing to share His resources with his people all through the Old Testament. In the New Testament this concept is extended and made even more precious.
Jesus taught us to call God “Father,” actually, Papa. The most repeated prayer in the Christian church begins, “Our Father....”
God loved us so much that He called us His sons (I John 3:1,2).
And since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:7)
In Romans 8:16-17 God has adopted us as His sons and daughters. Therefore what is His is ours (we are heirs). Most fathers love to be generous with their children. Jesus understood this, and that is why he used fathers to explain God’s generosity (Matthew 7:9-11).
If imperfect fathers love to bestow blessings (gifts) on their children, imagine how our perfect Father in heaven must delight in giving good gifts to us, His beloved children.
No one’s voice sounds sweeter to God than yours.
IF WE DON’T, HE WON’T
Jeremiah 33:3
We must recognize the nature of prayer. It is not just asking God for something. Prayer is a relationship; it is abiding in the presence of the Lord. Prayer is the most intimate communion with God.
God will not do what we do not ask! (James 4:2, 3) We must daily send our praises up before God. Realizing:
God is not a distant God but an ever present God (Isaiah 59:1).
Prayer is an incense before God
(Revelation 5:8; 8:4).
God loves prayers so much that He likens it to a sweet smelling incense to His nostrils.
Psalm 141:2 - “Let my prayer be set before you as incense.”
Exodus 30:7, 8 - Every morning and evening an incense should be sent up to our God. Nowadays, we do not need Aaron; for we are spiritual priests and offer up spiritual sacrifices unto Him.
How can we have fellowship with God without prayer? We cannot.
Prayer is not only talking to God but communicating to God.
We can know the mind of God! (I John 1:3)
GIVING GOD OUR ATTENTION IS VITAL TO PRAYER
Three essential elements for a fruitful and fulfilling prayer life can be found in Psalm 54:2:
(1) God
(2) Believer
(3) Communication
Take away any one of these and prayer is impossible.
Without God no one listens.
Without the believer no one speaks.
Without communication, nothing is said.
THE RECIPIENT OF PRAYER
Our ordinary conversations reflect our attitudes toward the listener, and the same is true in prayer.
Our thoughts and attitudes about God largely determine how we speak to Him.
We need to continually deepen and clarify our concept of God so our communication with Him will grow in quality and value.
Christians adjust their communication with God to match their perception of Him. How BIG is your God.?
The recipient of prayer is GOD.
THE SOURCE OF PRAYER
Prayer always involves a human source. We must learn how to “speak to ourselves” when we pray.
Self-awareness is a very important part of prayer. What are my attitudes, ideas, and circumstances?
THE WORDS OF COMMUNICATION
We must be conscious of our words to God when we pray. Variety in prayer is vital to effective communication with God.
Following the same pattern again and again will destroy a prayer life, just as surely as it destroys an earthly conversation.
Believers should pay attention to themselves in prayer because they are the source of prayer. The more aware we are of ourselves, the more sincere our prayers will become.
PRAYER LESSON THIRTY-THREE
PAGE
PAGE 58
GOAL: To clearly define prayer and its purpose.
KEY SCRIPTURE: Luke 11:1
Prayer: One of our greatest blessings and one of our biggest struggles.
Prayer is one of the greatest blessings God offers, but it is also a source of frustration and guilt.
However, a life filled with prayer is a life of great blessing. Prayer should project the full range of human emotions, from exuberant joy to frantic despair. Prayer gives strength.
The Bible teaches that we serve a God who is simply looking for opportunities to pour out his blessings on us (Leviticus 26:3-6; Deuteronomy 28:2-6,12; II Samuel 12:7-9).
God listens for your unique voice every day. We can see the theme that God is ready and willing to share His resources with his people all through the Old Testament. In the New Testament this concept is extended and made even more precious.
Jesus taught us to call God “Father,” actually, Papa. The most repeated prayer in the Christian church begins, “Our Father....”
God loved us so much that He called us His sons (I John 3:1,2).
And since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:7)
In Romans 8:16-17 God has adopted us as His sons and daughters. Therefore what is His is ours (we are heirs). Most fathers love to be generous with their children. Jesus understood this, and that is why he used fathers to explain God’s generosity (Matthew 7:9-11).
If imperfect fathers love to bestow blessings (gifts) on their children, imagine how our perfect Father in heaven must delight in giving good gifts to us, His beloved children.
No one’s voice sounds sweeter to God than yours.
IF WE DON’T, HE WON’T
Jeremiah 33:3
We must recognize the nature of prayer. It is not just asking God for something. Prayer is a relationship; it is abiding in the presence of the Lord. Prayer is the most intimate communion with God.
God will not do what we do not ask! (James 4:2, 3) We must daily send our praises up before God. Realizing:
God is not a distant God but an ever present God (Isaiah 59:1).
Prayer is an incense before God
(Revelation 5:8; 8:4).
God loves prayers so much that He likens it to a sweet smelling incense to His nostrils.
Psalm 141:2 - “Let my prayer be set before you as incense.”
Exodus 30:7, 8 - Every morning and evening an incense should be sent up to our God. Nowadays, we do not need Aaron; for we are spiritual priests and offer up spiritual sacrifices unto Him.
How can we have fellowship with God without prayer? We cannot.
Prayer is not only talking to God but communicating to God.
We can know the mind of God! (I John 1:3)
GIVING GOD OUR ATTENTION IS VITAL TO PRAYER
Three essential elements for a fruitful and fulfilling prayer life can be found in Psalm 54:2:
(1) God
(2) Believer
(3) Communication
Take away any one of these and prayer is impossible.
Without God no one listens.
Without the believer no one speaks.
Without communication, nothing is said.
THE RECIPIENT OF PRAYER
Our ordinary conversations reflect our attitudes toward the listener, and the same is true in prayer.
Our thoughts and attitudes about God largely determine how we speak to Him.
We need to continually deepen and clarify our concept of God so our communication with Him will grow in quality and value.
Christians adjust their communication with God to match their perception of Him. How BIG is your God.?
The recipient of prayer is GOD.
THE SOURCE OF PRAYER
Prayer always involves a human source. We must learn how to “speak to ourselves” when we pray.
Self-awareness is a very important part of prayer. What are my attitudes, ideas, and circumstances?
THE WORDS OF COMMUNICATION
We must be conscious of our words to God when we pray. Variety in prayer is vital to effective communication with God.
Following the same pattern again and again will destroy a prayer life, just as surely as it destroys an earthly conversation.
Believers should pay attention to themselves in prayer because they are the source of prayer. The more aware we are of ourselves, the more sincere our prayers will become.
PRAYER LESSON THIRTY-THREE
PAGE
PAGE 58
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