Teach Me to Pray Review

1 -Teachings of Jesus about prayer and the Lord’s prayer, Hannah’s prayer

2 - Elijah and prayer

3 - Solomon’s prayer

4 - Jesus’ prayer

Get your input

then I will try to put it all together (even though we will never stop learning about prayer)

say some of the same things in different ways

How has your prayer life changed?

your understanding, your outlook, your habits

Our Christian Mission Statement: Be in the will of God.

act like he wants us to act

do what he wants us to do

talk like he wants

think like he wants

live like he wants

react like he wants you to react

be what he wants us to be

in our daily living

as we progress through different stages of life

in our ultimate callings, destiny

What role of prayer in helping us to be in God’s will?

#1 - Use prayer to ask God to reveal His will to us.

so we will know what to do

Ask God . . .

“what’s your will for my life”

“how should I handle this situation?”

“what do you want me to do today?”

what do you want me to take on?”

what do you want me to give up?

what do you want me to change

where do you want me to live

do you want me to marry. If yes, then who

Good prayers! But how does God communicate the answer?

Practical ways God reveals His will

We all want an angel from heaven or a burning bush, big booming voice . . . .

or a stranger that walks up to us and tells us everything we are going through and the next 100 things God has planned for us

let’s go over many things that we overlook and sometimes don’t appreciate

Through church (God set it up for us to be together)

sermons

Bible study

learning from watching other believers

through words of songs {thank him, praise him, trust him, hold on}, ect.)

activities of the church

ex. if God called you to that church, and that church feeds the homeless, there is a good chance that part of God’s will for your life at that time, is feeding the homeless

roles you have at church

ex. God gives you a role at the church you are called to, that’s probably God’s will

(sometimes people make mistakes)

Strong feeling, strong calling to do something that you can’t shake

talents - he gave you those for a reason (lack of talent could indicate which roads are wrong)

where has God placed you outside the church- sermon about Solomon

at the job, in the community

everyday roles like mother, father, husband, wife - help me to be a good husband

read the Bible on your own and you understand something you didn’t before

what bothers you that doesn’t bother other people

multiple witnesses - especially “out of the blue” and unprompted

thoughts that make all the sense in the world and you wonder why you never thought of it earlier (from you or from someone else)

open doors/closed doors

family - but sometimes family is last people we listen to because we know them, or because they are so rough in their manner

dreams/vision

I have to keep up with all these ways?

yes! no simple, one time, set it and forget it answer

God will keep you on your toes

my wife communicates to me in various ways too

voice

voice

text message

cell phone call

facial expressions

through Elijah

through Peyton and Ken

through not talking

phrases - “I’ll make a deal with you”: actually means “do me a favor”

What’s another role that prayer plays in our goal to be in God’s will?

#1 was Use prayer to ask God to reveal his will to us . . .

#2 Use prayer to ask for the things on God’s list.

pray for things in God’s will that have not manifested.

This is when we see prayer requests come to pass

1 John 5:14 NASB95

14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

With Elijah the prophet, God wanted fire to come down and burn the offering - so he set up an whole fire contest and prayed that people would know that the Lord was God

If you know God wants you to be a teacher, then you know praying for money for college is on God’s list.

if you know God wants you to start a successful business, then a good business plan is on God’s list.

If God tells you that he is going to heal someone, then praying for their healing is on God’s list

of course the questions is, what is on God’s list?

especially when we are talking specific “list type items” and not direction and overall instruction prayers.

for these type of prayers . . . . use methods listed above and

we learned . . . .

THINK SPIRITUAL when you pray (spiritual things always first on God’s list - 6:33)

try to avoid always being ONLY self centered and materialistic

you should pray about self and material things, but don’t let them be the only thing, the main thing

Pray for other people’s needs (caring for others is spiritual)

spiritual - salvation, restoration

material - food, shelter, clothing, money, health

emotional - grief, trauma

family, church members, friends, neighbors, enemies

Pray about your character struggles - rebellious, hot-tempered, greed, jealousy

pray for godly characteristics in your life - love, peace, patience, forgiving spirit, ect.

pray for an understanding of the Bible

pray for needs of ministry

ex. What does the youth department need? (workers, money, ideas)

ex. Help me reach more people at my job

pray for the power/strength to stay in his will - not my will, but thy will be done

help me obey

Psalm 141:3 NASB95

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.

pray for your needs - all your needs are on that list

note: you might have a different definition of needs than God

Super Practical Ideas to improve your communication with God

conversations with God are often like conversations with people

they are better when you are not distracted, happen at set times, when you set the mood, the more often the better, the longer the better (we had a long conversation)

try to remove distractdions - get by yourself, prayer closet (no phone, TV, family)

have a set time - talk with my sister by Zoom every Tuesday evening; that set time keeps the connection going.

as a church, We pray three times per day like Daniel.

Find the best time for that person

want to talk to a women - as soon as they get home

how do you feel today went - you’re off to the races

want to talk to a man - give him time to decompress, give him a heads up

have to direct them to get the flow going

anything interesting/funny/important happen today?

what was so and so acting like today? - you’re off to the races

For God - a good time to hear from God is after something spiritual happens

reflect on a sermon or service that moved you (alone or with someone)

whenever he feels like talking - if a spiritual understanding just comes to mind? Don’t brush it off, stop and listen, write it down

waking up early in the morning for no reason - “Is there something you want to say, Lord” (he gave you time to decompress)

set the mood - want romantic talk - play music

want spiritual talk - play spiritual music

gym and music

shower and music

cleaning and music

When God says, “no”

when you surprised the answer is no . . . you were sure it was on the list, but you were wrong . . . it happens to the best of us

2 Corinthians 12:7–8 NASB95

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.

God was revealing things to him!!! Great communication with G”od

But some type of trouble from satan came his way to keep him humble

he prayed three times against it

2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB95

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

God said no, my grace (help) I have given you is sufficient . . . you have what you need.

so Paul decides to line up in the will of God and be content with God’s decision (most gladly) . . . God will look stronger because of this weakness (problem/situation that won’t leave)

Stick with the plan

Dr. West

BUILD that communication with God over days, weeks, months, years

WORK on your relationship with God,

we are assuming that we are all praying in faith, belief, expectation

closing example of sticking with the plan

Ephesians 6:18 NLT

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

the conclusion of the full armor of God:

pray in line with the Holy Spirit . . . all times, all occasions, be persistent, emphasize praying for believers

Ephesians 6:19–20 NLT

19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

gives examples:

Ask God to give me the right words to say

i am in chains, but pray that I stay bold

notice that he didn’t pray to be released!

nothing wrong if he had, but his mind is on spiritual things

most scholars believed he was released this particular time

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