Praying with Purpose: Aligning Our Will With God's

Central Message: In a world filled with distractions and competing priorities, praying with purpose allows us to align our desires and intentions with God’s will. By understanding the power of prayer, we can cultivate a deeper relationship with God and find clarity in our life’s direction.

OBJECTIVE

Aligning Our Hearts with God’s Purpose

Practical Steps to Align Our Prayers

Results of Purposeful Prayer

Aligning Our Hearts with God’s Purpose

Self Examination

Psalm 139:23–24 ESV

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

The necessity of repentance and humility

2. Cultivating a Heart of Worship

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Practical Steps to Align Our Prayers

Understanding God’s Will

Psalm 37:4 ESV

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

How can God make such a promise?

Delight in Money and Fame

Contrast with our lesson Text

1 John 5:13–15 ESV

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

Results of Purposeful Prayer

Transformed by the renewing of our minds

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Change of Circumstances

Acts 12:5 ESV

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Peace that surpasses understanding

Philippians 4:7 ESV

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

CONCLUSION

Align your heart with God’s Purpose

Take practical Steps to Align your Prayers

Positive results of Purposeful Prayer