Prayer

RTL: You have the ability to talk to the King of the universe, do not waste this privilege.

1. What is prayer?

Psalm 116:1–2 ESV

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

a. Prayer is talking to God.

b. Prayer has different forms:

1. Requests/petitions

2. Praise/adoration

3. Thanksgiving

4. Confession

5. Salvation

Prayer is a vital part of our relationship to God

We expect our friends to make an effort to talk with us. Sometimes, every day.

We even sometimes gauge how close we are by how much/often we talk.

Prayer is our part of the conversation with God (He speaks through by His Spirit through His word.) In which we praise Him, thank Him, ask Him to provide for our needs, confess to Him.

2. Why do we pray?

a. God commands it

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

b. God answers it

1 John 5:14–15 ESV

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.

- He provides for us through it

c. It helps us to rely on God

Psalm 143:7 ESV

Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

We can be comforted knowing that He hears us, and we can turn to Him.

d. It shows that God is the one we trust and love

2 Samuel 2:1–2 ESV

After this David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

3. Why call prayer the “abandoned essential”?

a. prayer is expected to be an everyday practice for the believer.

At LCS we pray in groups a lot, but many Christians struggles with individual prayer.

How many of you forget to text your crush/SO? Forget to go to practice? Play your favorite games? Eat?

And yet how many of us forget to pray each day? This morning?

What might we call it to put something above our relationship with God?

George Muller established 117 schools and 5 houses for orphans

One day, one of the houses was going to be without food (300 kids)

What would your first response be in that moment? Start hunting? Go looking for food?

Muller’s was to pray, and God provided. He relied on God.

To only act and never pray shows exactly who you rely on - Yourself.

Prayers answered

Do not abandon your relationship with God.