Prayer is communicating with the Godhead; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Prayer is having a loving relationship with the creator of the universe. Prayer is talking to God. It’s as simple as that.
When to Pray
* In the morning
* Morning, noon, and night
* Day & night
* Every day of the week
Do you get it? God is "on duty" to hear YOUR prayers 24/7/365! You will NOT be put on hold.
How to Pray
Some people believe that prayer is complicated. How do I pray? What should I say? Prayer is not difficult. Think of prayer as if you’re speaking with your best friend. God wants us to communicate with Him. He loves interacting with us. He loves for us to include Him in everything we do.
* Pray boldly
* Pray with an attitude of deep love and respect for God
* Pray "conversationally."
God is a person -- namely, your Father. Prayer is a deeply personal, intimate CONVERSATION with your Father -- not some *magical incantation* or religious babbling.
Where to Pray
* In your private room or secret place
* In church
* Everywhere and anywhere
You can pray in church, in a group, or by yourself. You can pray anywhere and at anytime. You can pray silently or out loud. Pray in faith and hope. Pray without doubting. Pray with the right motives.
The most important thing is having that special time with the Creator. It’s the time you acknowledge His magnificence, confess your sins, give thanks for all His blessings upon your life, and the time to express your love for Him. It’s the time you share your concerns, your desires, and your needs in your everyday life.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
(Philippians 4:6 NLT)
Prayer should not be done for show. When alone, go to a private place where there are no distractions and spend quality time with your heavenly Father. Having that one on one time with God is crucial in our daily lives. You can hear His voice through His Word, or through His still small voice.
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6 NLT)
Worshiping God through prayer brings us closer to Him. It changes us. It changes our lives. It changes our circumstances. It gives us peace. It gives us joy.
“Come close to God, and God will come close to you...”
(James 4:8 NLT)
God answers our prayers in three ways; YES, NO and WAIT. It’s the waiting that can be the hardest, but God’s timing is always perfect.
Sometimes the answer to our prayers is hindered because we are walking in sin. If you feel this is happening to you, ask the Lord to reveal anything in your life that is not pleasing to Him. God will make you aware of your sins so that you may confess them and repent. Then trust that He will answer your prayers.
What to Pray
In "the Model Prayer," Jesus taught you to...
# Pray to the Father.# Acknowledge God's holiness.
# Seek God's kingdom and God's will.
# Request God's daily provision.
# Confess your sins, and seek forgiveness.
# Request strength to resist evil and temptation.
# Offer praises unto God.
* Share your sorrows and joys with God.
* Pray for spiritual and physical healing for yourself and others.
* Pray for those who govern your nation and the world, that we may live in peace and godliness.
* Pray for wisdom and discernment.
* Pray for your enemies.
Jesus constantly prayed when He was here on earth. He would separate himself from his disciples and the crowds and He would go off alone to pray to the Father. He told us how to pray like this:
“Our Father in heaven,may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.”
(Matthew 6:9-13 NLT)
Jesus as Praying: Taking time alone with God - Jesus Praying
