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Prayer
• Prayer is two people who love each other, talking to each other.
• Prayer is two people who love each other, listening to each other.
• Prayer is two people who love each other, enjoying each other's company.
• Prayer is two people who love each other, saying how much they appreciate each other.
Prayer
• Prayer is two people who love each other, sharing their delight in each other.
• Prayer is two people who love each other, being honest when one messes up.
• Prayer is two people who love each other, asking for what they want.
• Prayer is two people who love each other, loving and supporting another.
Prayer
• Prayer is not bending the will of a reluctant God so that He gives in and says, "Oh, all right. You can have it."
• It's the invitation of a loving Father who says, "Come up close and tell Me what's on your heart."
Prayers to pray only once:
• Prayer of salvation• Prayer of confession and
receiving forgiveness
Prayers to pray persistently
• “God, show me where I’m being deceived.”
• Prayer for protection of ourselves and others
• Prayers that God hasn’t answered yet
Prayers to pray persistently
• Prayers that build character• Asking to be filled with the Spirit
(Ephesians 5:18) - Yieldedness• Scripture prayers
– 1 Thessalonians 3:12: “May the Lord make their love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else.”
Prayers to Pray Persistently• Praying for our children• Colossians 1:9-13
– “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and
– asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And
– we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord
– and may please him in every way:
Prayers to Pray Persistently
– bearing fruit in every good work and– increasing in the knowledge of God: – strengthened with all power, according to
His glorious might, – for the attaining of all steadfastness and
patience; – joyously giving thanks to the Father who
has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
Prayer Basics• God wants to hear from us• God wants to speak back to us• We ask, not demand• Remember to say “Thank You”• We pray to God (Father, Son and
Holy Spirit)– Not to dead saints– Not to angels
Prayer Basics• God wants us to speak conversationally
from our hearts, not in formula or ritual• “Praying without ceasing” (1 Thess.
5:17) means: – cultivating a continual acknowledgement
of God’s presence– open heart dialog– chatting and thanking and praising as well
as asking
When God Says No:Reasons for Unanswered
Prayer• Sin in our lives: Confess and repent• To say yes would bring us harm we
don’t foresee• God has something far greater in
store for us• We pray at cross purposes with
other believers
Reasons for Unanswered Prayer
• We pray for things where a “yes” is impossible
• We pray for things that are already determined
• We get discouraged in prayer by thinking God has said no when in fact He has said nothing at all
• God’s “No” is not rejection but redirection
Reasons for Unanswered Prayer
• God’s “No” isn’t punishment, it’s preparation
• God’s “No” will sometimes bring greater glory to God
• God’s “No” opens the door to an adventure with God
