11/13/2022
God wants to be that "Friend" that…..
you can trust
you can depend on
will never leave you
will give strength and confidence
gives us comfort
With God, there is nothing that we cant do.
Luke 11:1 "One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples'"
There are some questions about prayer….
Is prayer symbolic or real?
How much time do you spend praying?
How do you pray?
Where do you pray?
Do you plan to pray?
What is our depth of prayer commitment?
So how do we pray? WIth the most essential prayer elements…..
With honesty
praying with our heart
with truth and spirit
valued as our lifestyle
faith
hope
love
1 John 5:4 "This is the confidence we have approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us"
Matthew 6:9-13 "This, then, is how one should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we have also forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one."
That is the Lord's Prayer.
It addresses, honors and praises the Father
recognizes existence of the kingdom of God
asks to reveal God's will
accepts our daily bread needs
seeks forgiveness for our debts before forgiving our debtors
yields to his guidance
celebrates rescue from our adversary
Let's look at a couple lines "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
Jer 29:11 "for I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…."
"Give us today our daily bread."
John 6:27 "Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."
"Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors."
Luke 6:37 "Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
"And lead us not into temptation but deliver from the evil one."
1 Cor 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
So what are the elements of an acceptable prayer…
Praise
Honor
Nourishment
Debt forgiveness
guidance
Escape or deliverance
All of this leads to comfort
Prayer is a gift from God
"I will be with you" Isaiah 43:1
" I will deliver you" Psalm 50:15
"I will watch over you" Psalm 32:8
"I will listen to you" Jeremiah 29:12
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