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PRAYER Congratulations! FIRST STEPS in your new christian faith PRAYER Congratulations! Receiving Jesus as your Savior was not only the most important decision you ever made, but also the best. To help jump-start your spiritual life, we have created this seven part series of e-books that will get you off to a good start. • Book 1: JESUS • Book 2: THE BIBLE • Book 3: PRAYER • Book 4: CHURCH • Book 5: THE ENEMY • Book 6: TELL OTHERS • Book 7: HOLY SPIRIT NEXT STEPS: PRAYER CONTENTS: Why Pray? .................................................................................................................... 1 How do I Pray? ............................................................................................................ 3 How does God Answer Prayer? .................................................................................. 5 Let’s get started! FIRST STEPS | PRAYER WHY PRAY? Prayer models the lifestyle of Jesus In these days, He went out to the mountain to pray, and He continued all night in prayer to God. - Luke 6:12 As He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He asked them, “Who do the multitudes say that I am?” - Luke 9:18 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus) went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” - Mark 1:35 KJV It was presumed by Jesus that His disciples would be people of prayer. “When you pray…” - Jesus in Matthew 6:6 Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God because it develops our intimacy with Him. It is through prayer that we draw close to God. God will also speak to you during prayer by bringing things to mind and laying things on your heart. FIRST STEPS: PRAYER | 1 FIRST STEPS | PRAYER WHY PRAY? Prayer is also an act of worship. “Thus therefore shall you pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.’” - Matthew 6:9 Hallowed = to show reverence, i.e., to treat as sacred and holy. “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! - Matthew 7:7-11 God wants to be involved in your life and He wants to hear from you. FIRST STEPS: PRAYER | 2 FIRST STEPS | PRAYER HOW DO I PRAY? Find a quiet place. You will want to find a regular place that’s free from disturbances. But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. - Matthew 6:6 “Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy. Let Your Kingdom come. Let Your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. - Matthew 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer The “Lord’s Prayer” provides a model showing that it’s through prayer that we: 1. Exalt God the Father (“Holy is your name”) 2. Pray for God’s kingdom to advance on earth, (“Your kingdom come”) and ask Him to show you how you can be a part of doing so. 3. Ask for your daily necessities (“daily bread”) 4. Ask God to forgive you for your sins (“forgive us our sins”) 5. Pray for protection from the devil (“lead us not into temptation/deliver us from evil”) FIRST STEPS: PRAYER | 3 FIRST STEPS | PRAYER HOW DO I PRAY? The ACTS Prayer Model Here’s an easy to remember acronym for prayer: Adoration. Spend time praising God for His goodness (Matthew 6:9). Sing songs of praise to Him. “Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9 Confession. Ask Jesus to forgive you for the things you’ve done wrong (Matthew 6:12). “Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” - Matthew 6:12 Thanksgiving. Take time to thank God for HIs blessings and answered prayer (Psalm 107:1). “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His loving kindness endures forever.” - Psalm 107:1 Supplication (e.g. making requests). What do you want God to do in your life? (Philippians 4:6) In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:6 FIRST STEPS: PRAYER | 4 FIRST STEPS | PRAYER HOW DOES GOD ANSWER PRAYER? Yes ... Not Now ... No ... I’ve got something better in mind. Barriers to Unanswered Prayers • Unconfessed Sins Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it can’t save; nor His ear dull, that it can’t hear. But your iniquities have separated you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. - Isaiah 59:1-2 • Unforgiveness “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” - Matthew 6:14-15 • Disobedience Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God; and whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. - 1 John 3:21-22 • Wrong Motives You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures. - James 4:3 FIRST STEPS: PRAYER | 5 FIRST STEPS | PRAYER HOW DOES GOD ANSWER PRAYER? It’s through prayer that you’ll build intimacy with God. Express what’s on your heart, confess your sins, and your desires. Connecting with God through prayer is similar to recharging your phone and so the devil will always try to keep you from doing so. Prioritize it and you’ll see a more fruitful life. Next up, Church. FIRST STEPS: PRAYER | 6 Congratulations! Receiving Jesus as your Savior is the most important decision you have ever made. The blessings that await you in heaven are beyond imagination. If I don’t get to meet you here on earth, I will see you there! - Dr. Bobby Brewer Lead Pastor North Chapel Bible Church GROW Learn | Relate | Train | Share www.northchapel.net/grow.
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