Acceptable Prayer-Its timing and frequencyLaindon Bible Class – 10th July 2013

Prayer 2

Acceptable Prayer

• Its timing and frequency

• Its purpose and contents

Prayer 3

Two sides of one coin

Timing & frequency Purpose & contents

Prayer 4

A keynote verse

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14

Prayer 5

Acceptable

OT:7522

ratsown (raw-tsone'); or ratson (raw-tsone'); from OT:7521; delight:KJV - (be) acceptable (-ance, -ed), delight, desire, favour, (good) pleasure, (ownself,, voluntary) will, as ... (what) would.

NT:2101

euarestos (yoo-ar'-es-tos); from NT:2095 and NT:701; fully agreeable:KJV - acceptable (-ted), wellpleasing.

Prayer 6

Application of acceptable

• Heart• Body• Thoughts• Prayers Acceptable to God• Words• Sacrifice• Service

Prayer 7

Timing perspectives

• Time of day or week• Relating to events in our lives

– Trials– Blessings (including meals…)

• Relating to the household of faith• Relating to the progress of God’s

purpose– Signs of Christ’s coming

Prayer 8

Time of day

• Early in the morning (Psalm 5:2-3 & 88:13)• Daniel prayed three times: probably

morning, midday and evening (Daniel 6:10)• Jesus prayed all night (Luke 6:12)• Peter prayed at the sixth hour (noon) and

Cornelius prayed at the ninth hour (3pm) (Acts 10:3, 9 & 30)

• Paul prayed night and day (1 Thessalonians 3:10)

Prayer 9

Examples of timing of prayers

• Solomon prayed at the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8)

• Jesus prayed when facing his trials (Matthew 26:36-46 & James 5:13)

• Praying for the sick (James 5:14-15)• Praying for one another (James 5:16)• Watching for signs of Jesus’ coming

(Luke 21:31)

Prayer 10

Some faithful examples

• Hannah:– Prayed for a child (1 Samuel 1:12-18)– Thanked God for Samuel (1 Samuel 2:1-10)

• David:– Psalms are full of prayers– Prayed for Bathsheba’s son (2 Samuel 12)

• Hezekiah:– Prayed for deliverance (2 Kings 19:15-19)– Prayed for his life (2 Kings 20:2-3)

Prayer 11

Frequency of prayer

• Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17 & Acts 12:5)

• Pray always (Luke 18:1, 21:36 & Ephesians 6:18)

• Continue in prayer (Acts 1:14 & Colossians 4:2)

• Pray in relation to everything (Matthew 7:7-8, Philippians 4:4-7)

Prayer 12

A few thoughts on place

• What is prayer?

• How formal does it have to be?

• Where can it be?

• How can we use it to shape our lives?

13

Wherever we are…

Prayer

Prayer 14

Placing God in our thoughts