240117 Devotions For the Next Generation: Prayer Time

Loving God More in 2024

Prayer is like talking to a best friend

Who here has a best friend? SHOW OF HANDS Does everyone here have a close friend or a besty? Have you ever gone a week without talking to them? What was that like - WAIT ON THEM TO RESPOND, DRAW OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION

It seems pretty clear that when we have a best friend we want to A). spend time with them - hearing their ideas and B). talk to them about what is on our mind, right? Well that is what we are going to talk about tonight.

Two weeks ago we looked at what it was to spend time with our Best Friend, the One who loves us dearly and gave Himself up for us. We learned that the way we did this was through reading His Word.

Tonight we are going to look at prayer - prayer in its simplest terms is talking with God. Just like friends spend time together we are to spend time with God, not only hearing from Him but talking to Him about what is on our mind.

And what do best friends talk about? LET THEM RESPOND, IT SHOULD EFFECTIVELY BE EVERYTHING, MIRROR THAT WITH THIS LIST: Prayer includes petition, entreaty, supplication, thanksgiving, praise and lament

Praying According to Christ: Matthew 6:9–13 ““Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. ‘Give us this day our daily bread. ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’

Don’t pray to be seen as holy Matthew 6:6““But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

Don’t pray with pointless repetition Matthew 6:7““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.”

Do pray persistently: Luke 11:9–10 ““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.”

Praying to God according to Paul: RPG

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Praying according to James:

James 5:13–18 “Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the earth produced its fruit.”

Praying to God: ACTS

Adoration: Glorifying God for His goodness

Confession: Mentioning specific sins and agreeing with God about their severity and need for forgiveness

Thanksgiving: Expressing appreciation for things

Supplication: Asking for things

What are some blessings from spending time with the Lord each day in prayer?

Assurance that God hears and answers 2 Chronicles 7:14“and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will listen from heaven, I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land.”