Review

Last week, we started a series titled, “I prayed about it. (But what does that mean?)”

 

The objective of this series is to get you to pray. . .

• Sincerely (Put your heart in it)

 

• Biblically (Follow Scriptural patterns and instructions)

 

• Attentively (Be responsive to promptings from the Spirit and your observations)

 

• Regularly (Make prayer a daily practice)

 

• Persistently (Pray through delays and denials)

In this series, we’re covering four prayer-related topics:

 

• The Posture of Prayer (My attitude)

 

• The Content of Prayer (My words)

 

• The Practice of Prayer (My habits)

 

• The Accessories of Prayer (My help)

The Lord’s Prayer

• Matthew 6:9–13 (NKJV): 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our 13And 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.

The Big Idea

• Matthew 6:9–10 (NKJV): 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

 

• Matthew 6:9–10 (NKJV): 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

 

• The Father, The Family, The Kingdom

 

Prayer is about God’s priorities, not ours.

 

• Matthew 6:31–33 (ESV): 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 

• Matthew 6:11(NKJV): 11Give us this day our daily bread.

 

• After addressing God’s priorities, address the day’s priorities.

 

• Exodus 16:16 (ESV): 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’ ”

 

• Exodus 16:16–20 (ESV): 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. [that day]. You shall each take an omer, [roughly two quarts or two liters] according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’ ”

 

• Determine what you need for the day and focus on that.

 

• Your real need is only the need of the day you’re currently in.

 

• Exodus 16:17-18 (ESV): 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.

 

• Exodus 16:19 (ESV): 19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.”

 

• Exodus 16: 20 (ESV): 20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.
  • Lesson: Don’t bring the stress of tomorrow into today.

 

• Matthew 6:34 (ESV): 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 

• God’s ways will ALWAYS outperform your ways.

 

• Focus on what you need today and trust God with tomorrow.

 

• Focus on the day helps us to walk with Him.

 

• He’s always present with us, but are we present with Him?

Clean Hands and a Pure Heart

 

• Matthew 6:12(NKJV): 12And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our

 

• Matthew 6:13 (NKJV): 13And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. . . .

 

• Psalm 24:3–6 (ESV): 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

Beyond Need

 

• Psalm 37:4 (ESV): 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 

• John 15:5 (ESV): 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

 

• John 15:7 (ESV): 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

First Prayer Steps for Beginners

What do we literally say?

• One Simple Formula (How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig)

 

• Basic Formula: P.R.A.Y.

 

• Pause

 

• Rejoice

 

• Ask

 

• Yield

 

• Example

 

• “Lord, I stop to give rejoice and give thanks for waking me up this morning. Please guide my decisions today. Help me submit to your wisdom.”

Developing a Prayer Vocabulary

• Pray the Scripture

 

• Examples:

 

• Psalm 24:3–4 (ESV): 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

 

• Lord, give me clean hands and a pure heart.

 

• Ephesians 1:16–18 (ESV): 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you. . .

 

• Lord, open their eyes so they can see you clearly.

 

• Free resources

 

• How To Pray Scripture Back to God Resource: https://www.wycliffe.org/blog/posts/how-to-pray-scripture-back-to-god

 

• Examples from this resource:

 

• Colossians 3:15 (ESV): 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

 

• “Lord Jesus, quiet my heart and let Your peace rule in me as I come before You today”

 

• Revelation 7:9–10 (ESV): 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

 

• “Lord, may the Quechua people in South America join the great multitude praising You around the throne. Prepare their hearts for Your Word.”

 

• “God, I lift up the Deaf communities around the world. May Your Word in sign languages bring joy and transformation so they too are part of the worshipping crowd.”

 

• “Father, let the vision of Revelation 7:9 stir my heart to pray for the Koma people of Ghana. May they one day lift their voices in praise with Your Word in hand.”

 

• 222 Prayers of the Bible: https://www.hopefaithprayer.com/prayernew/222-prayers-of-the-bible/

 

• Types of Prayers and Sample Prayers: https://graceplano.church/blog/2024/09/17/8-types-of-prayer-for-everyday-life

 

• Resources on Types of Prayer:

 

• 7 Different Types of Prayers: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/live-it-post/7-different-types-of-prayer-from-the-bible/

 

• What are the different types of prayer?https://www.gotquestions.org/types-of-prayer.html

 

• General Prayer Resource Tools

 

• 10 Free Tools For Prayer You Can Use Today! Best Free Resources on how to pray

 

• Resources for Purchase

 

• Praying the Prayers of the Bible by James Banks

 

• All the Prayers of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer

 

• Use Prayer Books

 

• Resource for Purchase

 

• Prayers that Avail Much by Germaine Copeland

 

• Start with Prayer: 250 Prayers for Hope and Strength by Max Lucado

 

• Listen to Seasoned people Pray

 

• At corporate prayer meetings

 

• In prayer groups

 

• When invited into a prayer of agreement

 

• Book and online audio devotional on prayer with sample prayers

 

• Book for Purchase

 

• 21 Days of Breakthrough Prayer: The Power of Agreement by Jim Maxim

 

• Inspired Speech from the Holy Spirit

 

• Human (or natural) language

 

• Luke 12:11–12 (ESV): 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

 

• Acts 4:8 (ESV): 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them. . . .

 

• Luke 1:41–42 (ESV): 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

 

• Luke 1:67 (ESV): 67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

 

• Heavenly (or spiritual) language

 

• Acts 2:4 (ESV): 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

• Acts 10:45–46 (ESV): 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,

 

• Pray for an interpretation of tongues

 

• 1 Corinthians 14:13–15 (ESV): 13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

 

• 1 Corinthians 14:6 (ESV): 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Additional Prayer Subject Matter

• People in Authority

 

• 1 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV): 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

 

• Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV): 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

 

• Church vision, leadership, congregation, needs

 

• Colossians 1:9 (ESV): 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

 

• Ephesians 1:15–16 (ESV): 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

 

• Requests from other people
  • Ephesians 6:18–20 (ESV): 18 . . . .To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
• • 2 Thessalonians 3:1–2 (ESV): 1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.

 

• Pray for the people around you, which often requires appeals to God for peace:

 

• Romans 12:18 (ESV): 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

 

• James 3:17–18 (ESV): 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

• The wisdom to make peace must be requested through prayer:

 

• James 1:5 (ESV): 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

 

• Categories of people included in this
• Family
• Neighbors
• Retailers
• Fellow Students
• Team Members
• Co-Workers