Sermon Tone Analysis

Creating a Lifestyle of Prayer

Prayer is most effective when it isn’t something, we do every now and then, but when it’s a lifestyle we cultivate.

To understand how to have a lifestyle of prayer, we can look at the example Jesus gave during His life on earth.

Here is what we need to do.

Make a certain time

Jesus got up early in the morning to spend time with His Heavenly Father.

Make a daily appointment with God — whether it’s first thing in the morning, at lunch, or in the evening — and faithfully keep it.

Have a certain place

Jesus had a specific place He went to pray.

Having a designated place to pray helps us remove distractions and frees us to worship and pray out loud.

Have a certain plan

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He gave them a prayer outline.

We call it “The Lord’s Prayer.

Praying the Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer is often recited in churches, as I did growing up, or at religious events, but there’s so much more to this prayer.

Jesus provided this model as an outline to teach us how to pray in a way that connects us to God, aligns our priorities with His, and helps us live dependently on Him.

This model takes us through each part of The Lord’s Prayer, showing us how to pray the way Jesus instructed.

1. Connect with God relationally

Our Father in heaven...

God isn’t interested in us practicing religion; instead, He desires a relationship with us.

God has adopted us as His children and loves for us to call Him our Father.

Starting our prayer time acknowledging our relationship with God is powerful for us and delights Him as well.

Declare your intimate relationship with God, addressing Him lovingly as your Father and thanking Him that you are His child.

pray this together

Prayer - “Father, I come to You in prayer today thankful that I am Your child.

I know I am a sinner, but You have forgiven me and adopted me as Your own, and I am so grateful to call You my Father.

Thank You for loving me.

I love You.”

2. Worship His Name

Hallowed be Your Name...

God loves when we worship Him, and there is power in His name.

Here is a list of some of His names to help us worship Him specifically and personally.

God is righteousness -

He makes us clean

God is sanctifier -

He has called us and set us apart

God is healer -

He heals all our diseases.

God is Banner of Victory -

He defeated our enemies.

God is peace -

He is our peace in every storm.

God is provider -

He supplies all of our needs

Speak God’s names out loud.

When we proclaim who He is, we not only worship Him, but we also remind ourselves how powerful and great our God is.

PRAYER:

“God, I am in awe of You.

Your name is a strong tower, a place of protection and safety for me.

I praise You as my Healer, my Shepherd, and my Banner of Victory.

You are my Peace, my Provider, my Righteousness, and my Sanctifier.

Your name is great, and I worship You.”

3. Pray His agenda first

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Part of being a child of God is caring about what He cares about and loving who He loves.

We know His will is perfect, and we acknowledge His wisdom and sovereignty when we pray His agenda first.

Spend time focusing on what God is focused on.

His priorities include:

Saving the lost

Wisdom and guidance for those in authority— spiritual, governmental, work-related

Caring for the poor and marginalized

Unity and love

Life for the unborn, the living and the elderly

Justice

Freedom for those in bondage.

Accomplishing His purpose in our lives

PRAYER:

“God, I recognize there is no better plan on earth than Yours, and I pray for Your will to be done in our world and in my life (name the areas of your life where you need more of God’s presence today).

This world is lost and needs You desperately, and I pray for every person to know You as their personal Lord and Savior.

I pray for the leaders in my life (pray specifically over parents, spiritual leaders, governmental leaders, employers, and any other leaders in your life), that You would show them Your will and give them supernatural wisdom and discernment as they lead.

God, I pray that Your heart for justice and unity would be seen in our world; that those who are in bondage will be set free; that the needs of the poor and marginalized will be met.

Show me what my role is in seeing the realities of heaven come to earth.

Make Your priorities my priorities.

Help me love who You love and see value in all people.

I give my life to You again today; have Your way in me.

Please give me wisdom and clarity as You show me my next steps.”

4. Depend on Him for everything

Give us our day our daily bread

God promises to supply all our needs, and He wants us to come to Him with our problems, needs, and desires and to trust Him to provide.

Ask God for what you need today.

It may help to write down the concerns weighing on your mind or the desires of your heart.

Bring them to God and trust Him enough to hand them over to Him fully.

It may help to open your hands before God to physically show your surrender to Him.

Problems can either be ours or God’s; they can’t be both.

PRAYER:

“Father, I acknowledge that everything I need today will come from You.

You made the heavens and the earth; You are more than capable of handling any situation I’m dealing with, so I give it to You completely (specifically talk to God about what is on your mind and heart right now and give it to Him).

I look to You to help me, sustain me, and give me Your.

5. Forgive and be forgiven

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…

God has offered us complete forgiveness, and we can receive it at any time.

When we turn away from our sins and receive His forgiveness, our hearts are more prepared to forgive others as well.

Ask God to check your heart and life and show you areas where you might need to ask for forgiveness from Him.

Then, it is your turn to forgive those who have offended you.

We can even choose to forgive people in advance.

Ask God to forgive you and to help you forgive others.

PRAYER:

“God, thank You so much for offering me the gift of forgiveness.

Show me any areas in my life that I need to bring before You in order to receive forgiveness and healing.