Who should pray
Prayer Basics: Who Should Pray?
“God Wants To Hear from You”
Introduction
We read the challenges in Scripture, to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:7) and “in every-
thing...present [our] requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). We’ve heard the life-changing testimonies of people
committed to the power of prayer.And we’re moved by the heartbreaking needs in our church, neighbor-
hood, and world that call us to prayer.
Still, while many sincere Christians see the importance of prayer, the thought of spending long
periods of time praying makes them feel intimidated, inadequate, or even afraid. Perhaps you’ve even
found yourself in this position—struggling to put prayer into practice. If so, you’re not alone. While
most Christians recognize the value of prayer, consistently devoting time to it can be a challenge. This
battle is reflected in statements like these:
“I just don’t have time to pray.”
“I really struggle to stay focused during prayer times.”
“I get bored and tired when I pray for very long.”
As these struggles mount, some might be tempted to conclude that a consistent personal prayer life just
isn’t for them. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Every child of God is called to a lifestyle of
prayer. So how do we bridge the gap between knowing the good that we ought to do and actually putting it
into practice? Here are a few principles to keep in mind.
Sermon Body
1. Prayer is a responsibility—and a privilege. (Matthew 6:5-13) Jesus didn’t say “If you pray...,” but
“When you pray....” While spending time in prayer requires a sustained commitment and produces
some real challenges, it’s also important to avoid viewing prayer as merely a responsibility to be met.
Jesus invited us to hold conversation with the Father. There is no higher privilege than entering into
His presence.
2. God hears us. (Psalm 34:15-18) Our prayers don’t just bounce off the ceiling. God listens because
He cares. And this compassion leads to powerful acts on our behalf when we seek Him in prayer.
3. Consistent prayer requires commitment. (Colossians 4:2; 1 Peter 5:8) Commitment to prayer is a
spiritual battle that requires devotion. The enemy of our souls would like nothing more than to
see us forego prayer and attempt to live life in our own strength and wisdom. Time pressures,
misguided priorities, and even a sense of personal unworthiness all seek to derail our prayer
lives.
4. We need prayer now, more than ever. (1 Peter 4:7)
· Recognize the urgency of personal prayer. It’s easy to get so caught up in the urgency of our
daily activities that we lose our perspective when it comes to eternal things. Yet in this verse
we observe an important exhortation that moves us toward prayer.
· Refocus your attention on God’s kingdom. One of the biggest challenges we face in prioritizing
prayer is that it deals largely with the unseen, spiritual realm. Prayer directs our focus outside
the five physical senses and into God’s kingdom. It’s no wonder Peter exhorted us to be clear
minded and self-controlled. Daily issues and problems continually seek to divert our attention.
We need prayer to keep our minds fixed on Christ.
Developed in part from “Prayer Basics: Who Should Pray?,” a downloadable teaching resource on prayer,
available free of charge from the National Prayer Center web site, www.prayer.ag.org.
Prepared by the Assemblies of God National Prayer Center
Prayer Basics: Who Should Pray?
“God Wants To Hear from You”
Introduction
We read the challenges in Scripture, to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:7) and “in every-
thing...present [our] requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). We’ve heard the life-changing testimonies of people
committed to the power of prayer.And we’re moved by the heartbreaking needs in our church, neighbor-
hood, and world that call us to prayer.
Still, while many sincere Christians see the importance of prayer, the thought of spending long
periods of time praying makes them feel intimidated, inadequate, or even afraid. Perhaps you’ve even
found yourself in this position—struggling to put prayer into practice. If so, you’re not alone. While
most Christians recognize the value of prayer, consistently devoting time to it can be a challenge. This
battle is reflected in statements like these:
“I just don’t have time to pray.”
“I really struggle to stay focused during prayer times.”
“I get bored and tired when I pray for very long.”
As these struggles mount, some might be tempted to conclude that a consistent personal prayer life just
isn’t for them. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Every child of God is called to a lifestyle of
prayer. So how do we bridge the gap between knowing the good that we ought to do and actually putting it
into practice? Here are a few principles to keep in mind.
Sermon Body
*1. Prayer is a responsibility—and a privilege. (Matthew 6:5-1)
2. God hears us. (Psalm 34:15-18)
3. Consistent prayer requires commitment. (Colossians 4:2; 1 Peter 5:8)
4. We need prayer now, more than ever. (1 Peter 4:7)
Recognize the urgency of personal prayer./
· Refocus your attention on God’s kingdom.
Developed in part from “Prayer Basics: Who Should Pray?,” a downloadable teaching resource on prayer,
available free of charge from the National Prayer Center web site, www.prayer.ag.org.
Prepared by the Assemblies of God National Prayer Center