Put Prayer To Work

Good morning! Glad each of one of you are here with us this morning. Make sure if today is your first time with us or if you haven't done so yet you fill out a connect card or scan the QR code on the back of the chair in front of you so we can stay connected with you.

Announcements:

Sunday Afternoons @ The Olivers will be today from 2:00pm-5:00pm!bring food and come ready to relax and fellowship see me or Robyn after service to get our address.

We will be kicking off our Exodus reading plan tomorrow 6/12 reading plans are available.

Baptisms on Sunday 6/25! If you are interested make sure you sign up.

WHY WE PRAY!

Intimacy with God: Prayer is the gateway to intimacy with God. As followers of Christ, our ultimate goal is to know and experience a deep relationship with our Heavenly Father. Through prayer, we can freely express our thoughts, feelings, and desires to Him, while also receiving His love, comfort, and guidance. It is in prayer that we draw near to God and experience His presence in our lives.

Dependence on God: Prayer reminds us of our dependence on God. As flawed and limited beings, we acknowledge our need for His wisdom, strength, and provision. Through prayer, we humbly surrender our self-reliance and recognize that apart from Him, we can do nothing. It is through prayer that we actively seek His guidance and invite Him to work in and through us.

Prayer aligns us with God's will. By seeking His guidance and submitting our desires to Him, we open ourselves to His leading and direction. Through prayer, we invite God to shape our hearts and align our desires with His purposes. It is in prayer that we surrender our will to His, trusting in His perfect plans for our lives.

Worship and Adoration: Prayer provides an opportunity for Christians to worship and adore God. It allows us to express our love, gratitude, and reverence to the Creator of all things.

Prayer strengthens our faith. As we bring our hopes, fears, and struggles before God, we witness His faithfulness and experience His grace. In times of doubt or uncertainty, prayer becomes a source of encouragement and a reminder of God's promises. Through prayer, we deepen our trust in Him and grow in our reliance on His power and provision.

Prayer has the power to transform lives. As we bring our concerns, sins, and burdens before God, He works within us, molding us into the image of Christ. Through prayer, we experience His forgiveness, healing, and restoration. It is in prayer that we are transformed from the inside out, becoming vessels of His love and agents of His kingdom in the world.

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 CSB

Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Gratitude Section:

We should be thankful because God is worthy of our thanksgiving. It is only right to credit Him for “every good and perfect gift” He gives (James 1:17). When we are thankful, our focus moves off selfish desires and off the pain of current circumstances.

Expressing thankfulness helps us remember that God is in control. Thankfulness, then, is not only appropriate; it is actually healthy and beneficial to us. It reminds us of the bigger picture, that we belong to God, and that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). Truly, we have an abundant life (John 10:10), and gratefulness is fitting.

Acknowledgment of blessings: Prayer of gratitude allows us to acknowledge and appreciate the blessings and gifts we have received from God. It helps us recognize the goodness in our lives and cultivates a mindset of thankfulness.

Humility and dependence: Praying gratitude reminds us of our dependence on God and our humility in recognizing that all good things come from Him. It helps us maintain a sense of gratitude for His provision and grace.

Shift of focus: Prayer of gratitude shifts our focus from what may be lacking in our lives to what we already have. It redirects our attention from problems and challenges, promoting a positive outlook and fostering contentment.

Gratitude as an antidote to negativity: Gratitude has the power to counteract negative emotions such as envy, resentment, and dissatisfaction. When we express gratitude towards God, it helps us let go of negativity and embrace a more joyful and appreciative perspective.

Deepening connection: Gratitude in prayer strengthens our connection with God. By expressing gratitude, we acknowledge His presence and involvement in our lives. It deepens our relationship with Him and enhances our spiritual journey.

Cultivation of humility: Prayer of gratitude nurtures humility within us, reminding us that our blessings are not solely due to our own efforts. It fosters virtues such as contentment, generosity, and compassion as we recognize the abundance of blessings in our lives.

Positive impact on mental well-being: Expressing gratitude through prayer has been linked to improved mental well-being. It can reduce stress, increase happiness, and promote overall psychological health. Grateful individuals often experience greater resilience and optimism.

Direction/ God’s will be done Section:

We are going to take this time to go before God and seek His will four lives. Maybe you have a big life change on the horizon. or you feel like He has been calling you to something or calling you out of something but your not quite sure.

Surrender and trust: Praying for God's will demonstrates our willingness to surrender our desires, plans, and decisions to Him. It shows that we trust in His wisdom and guidance, acknowledging that His plans are ultimately for our highest good.

Alignment with His purpose: God has a unique purpose and plan for each individual's life. When we pray for His will, we seek alignment with His divine purpose, allowing Him to direct our paths and fulfill His intended plan for us.

Avoidance of pitfalls and mistakes: By seeking God's will in our prayers, we can avoid making choices that may lead to negative consequences or take us off the path He has intended for us. Praying for His guidance helps us make decisions that are in accordance with His wisdom and understanding.

Partnership with God: Praying for God's will invites Him to actively participate in our lives. It acknowledges that we are co-creators with Him, seeking His divine inspiration and partnership in all aspects of our journey.

Seeking God's wisdom: God's wisdom surpasses our own understanding. Praying for His will allows us to tap into His infinite wisdom and seek His guidance in making decisions, solving problems, and navigating life's challenges.

Honoring God as Lord: Praying for God's will is an act of reverence and submission. It acknowledges God as the ultimate authority and recognizes His sovereignty over our lives. It is an expression of humility and a declaration of His lordship.

Finding peace and contentment: When we pray for God's will, we release the burden of trying to control every aspect of our lives. We find peace in knowing that we are in His hands, trusting that His plans are perfect and that He will provide for us in every circumstance.

Development of spiritual maturity: Praying for God's will requires patience, discernment, and the willingness to set aside our own desires and ego. It challenges us to grow in faith, surrender, and selflessness, leading to spiritual maturity and a deeper connection with God.

Forgiveness Section:

We are now going to move into a time of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a divine gift that brings healing, reconciliation, and renewal to our lives. It allows us to experience the fullness of God's grace and to extend that grace to those around us. Let us explore the significance of prayer in seeking forgiveness and how it can lead us on a path of spiritual growth and deepening relationships.

Understanding the Need for Forgiveness: To truly appreciate the value of forgiveness, we must recognize our human frailty and the reality of our own imperfections. We all make mistakes, and our actions can cause harm to ourselves and to others. Acknowledging the need for forgiveness is the first step towards healing and reconciliation.

Praying for Self-Forgiveness:

Sincere Self-Reflection: Begin by taking an honest look at your actions, words, and thoughts. Identify the areas where you have fallen short, acknowledging your mistakes and the consequences they may have had.

Confession: Approach God with a contrite heart, confessing your faults and expressing genuine remorse.

Accepting God's Forgiveness: Believe in the power of God's grace and mercy. Trust that when you sincerely seek forgiveness, God is faithful to forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Embrace this forgiveness and let go of guilt, knowing that you are a beloved child of God.

Praying for Others:

Cultivating Empathy: Seek to understand the pain and hurt experienced by those whom you have wronged or those who have hurt you. Pray for the ability to empathize with their feelings and to see them through God's eyes.

Extending Forgiveness: Just as you have received forgiveness, extend forgiveness to others. Pray for the strength to release any grudges, resentment, or bitterness that may have taken root in your heart. Choose to forgive, even if it feels difficult.

Blessing and Reconciliation: Pray for the well-being, healing, and growth of those who have wronged you. Ask God to bless them and guide them on their own path of forgiveness and transformation. Seek opportunities for reconciliation and restoration of broken relationships.

Community (AVERT) and the world Section:

Now lets take this time to pray for our families, friends, co workers, our schools, our communities, for this church!

Repentance Section:

Now lets talk about repentance! some of us in this room might need to take this time to come before our God and repent! Forgiveness and repentance are closely related but have distinct meanings and implications.

Here's how they are

Forgiveness: forgiveness is a central teaching that emphasizes the act of pardoning someone who has wronged you, just as God forgives human beings for their sins. Christians believe that God is the ultimate source of forgiveness and that humans are called to imitate God's forgiveness in their relationships with others.

Just as we did earlier It involves letting go of feelings of anger, resentment, and the desire for revenge. Christians are encouraged to forgive others unconditionally, regardless of whether the wrongdoer repents or seeks forgiveness.

Repentance: Repentance, is the process of acknowledging one's sins, feeling genuine remorse, and seeking forgiveness from God. It involves a sincere turning away from sinful behaviors and a desire to change one's ways to align with God's will. Repentance is seen as a necessary response to God's grace and mercy, as it demonstrates a willingness to humble oneself before God, confess wrongdoing, and seek reconciliation with Him. It involves recognizing the need for God's forgiveness and actively striving to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

both forgiveness and repentance are considered essential for spiritual growth, reconciliation, and restoration of relationships. While forgiveness is primarily about the victim extending mercy, repentance focuses on the wrongdoer acknowledging their sins and seeking forgiveness from God. Both concepts are interconnected and emphasize the transformative power of God's love and grace in the lives of believers.