Introduction
Over the last few weeks we’ve been thinking about Life foundations. I want to challenge us to build our life on firm foundations. Remember, that Jesus is the solid rock that we build our life on and he is our example.
Last week we looked at the foundation of community and the importance of living in community and building community. This week we are looking at the why, how, when and what of prayer. One of the reasons we looked at how we see God is because the way we see God affects our behaviour and will affect the way we pray.
Proverbs 15:29
New Living Translation (NLT)
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayers of the righteous.
We must believe that God hears us when we pray.
Why Pray
Prayer is a vital part of our life and is our communication with God. God wants to speak to us. Prayer creates an environment conducive to hearing God.
Bill Hybels (Too Busy not to Pray) writes:
“If you lower the ambient noise of your life and listen expectantly for those whispers of God, your ears will hear them. And when you follow their lead, your world will be rocked.”
― Bill Hybels
Prayer is about hearing from God and speaking to God. When we make a habit of praying regularly we create an environment where God can speak and where we can learn to hear his voice. Prayer is about God’s will in heaven done on earth – The Lord’s prayer (Matt 6:9-12)
Richard C Trench says:
"Prayer is not getting man's will done in heaven, but getting God's will done on earth. It is not overcoming God's reluctance but laying hold of God's willingness."
Jesus is our example and he spent time in prayer. (Matt 14:22)
We need God’s direction in our life and prayer enables us to hear from God (If we will shut up and listen). Jesus tells us to pray. In Matt 6:9 he says to his discipkes "when you pray….". Not if you pray, but when you pray.
Paul says pray always – without ceasing
1 Thess 5: 16-17
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
The psalms are hymns and prayers to God. Prayer is a normal part of a relationship with God. God wants us to seek him, to hear from him and to learn from him.
Isaiah 55
“Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
4 See how I used him to display my power among the peoples.
I made him a leader among the nations.
5 You also will command nations you do not know,
and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey,
because I, the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”
6 Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
7 Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
God says – come – seek me – call on me.
How to pray
There are lots of ideas on how we should pray. Some scriptures say pray with your hands in the air, others say pray on your knees. I don’t think the posture of prayer is necessarily important unless it is hindering our prayer life. Raising hands to pray is in honour of God. Getting on our knees is a matter of humility and submission. So how do we pray?
The Bible uses words like "be persistent". Jesus says "ask and keep on asking" and tells the story of the persistent widow who keeps seeking justice till she gets it. Paul says be alert and persistent. In other words – be aware when you are praying, staying focussed. Paul also encourages us to pray in the spirit, with thankful hearts.
Ephesians 6:18
New Living Translation (NLT)
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
He talks to the Colossians about being devoted and having discipline in prayer, keeping a heart that is open and thankful to God. There are lots of ways to stay thankful in prayer – listing all the things you are thankful for and developing an attitude of thankfulness – seeing potential not difficulty.
Colossians 4:2
New Living Translation (NLT)
An Encouragement for Prayer
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Jesus, just before he teaches his disciples what to pray, teaches them how to pray.
Matt 6:5-8
Teaching about Prayer and Fasting
5 “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. 6 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.
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Prayer is not about what others think of our prayers. They are between you and God. Jesus was not against public prayer, just the attitude of the Pharisees to it. Jesus went to the temple to pray and so did the disciples – that was public prayer that gave honour and glory to God.
Some quick thoughts from Jesus’ directive on prayer:
-Pray where you are able to meet with God
-Don’t babble endless and long prayers – stay to the point. Babbling is different to persistence
-God knows what we need so stay to the point
-Pray according to the will of God and in the name of Jesus.
John 15:15-16
New Living Translation (NLT)
15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
John 16:23-24
New Living Translation (NLT)
23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
Pray to the Father by the Spirit in the name of Jesus. What does "in Jesus name" actually mean? It means pray a prayer that Jesus would pray. What is on the heart of Jesus for his world? Pray those things.
This is what it means to pray in the name of Jesus and the will of the Father.
Kenneth L. Wilson says:
"To pray in Jesus' name means to pray in his spirit, in his compassion, in his love, in his outrage, in his concern. In other words, it means to pray a prayer that Jesus himself might pray."
Am I praying prayers in the spirit, love and compassion of Jesus?
Come with and attitude of humility.
Prayer requires humility before God. After the dedication of the Temple and Solomons prayer, God tells Solomon that humility is important.
2 Chron 7:11-16
The Lord’s Response to Solomon
11 So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace. 12 Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said,
“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 16 For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honoured forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.
God has chosen us and called us. We are his people. When we come with humble hearts, he hears our prayers. Humility is a key attitude for prayer. God promised his people that if they would come to him humbly, seek his forgiveness and seek his face, then he would restore and heal and bring about his will for them and make them a great nation that honoured his name.
Both Peter and James tell us that God opposes the proud but gives grace and favour to the humble. James addresses the wrong motives that were prevalent among the people: jealousy, arguments and fighting. Their attitude was wrong.
James 4:1-8
New Living Translation (NLT)
Drawing Close to God
4 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
4 You adulterers!Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?[b] 6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but favors the humble.”
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
James shoots pretty straight when he says this. He does not muck around or beat around the bush. He simply says, when we ask God we don’t get what we are asking for because our motives are wrong.
Wrong attitudes and motives become obstacles to prayer. Things like jealousy, evil desires, wanting selfish answers not God’s purpose, friendship with the world and all kinds of pride can hinder our prayer life. Let’s not be like that. Instead lets deal with the attitudes and get our motives right.
What attitudes and motives might be hindering my prayer life?
An attitude of faith and from a position of righteousness
James 5:13-16
New Living Translation (NLT)
The Power of Prayer
13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
Proverbs 15:29
New Living Translation (NLT)
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayers of the righteous
Am I living my life in right relationship with God? If not, get into right relationship by seeking his forgiveness and determining to live for him.
Am I praying from an attitude of faith?
What can I do to build my faith?
When to pray
There is no hard and fast rule. Different times of day suit different people. I’m not so worried about when people pray, more that they pray. However morning prayer is helpful to start the day on the right note, setting a direction for the day. Evening prayer is helpful to finish the day and to bring the day before God working through and developing a process of bringing everything before God and being accountable for the day’s actions.
Praying through the night when we have something we are desperate about can be useful too. Can’t sleep? It’s a good time to seek God. He may have someone or something he wants you to pray for and he will bring them to mind.
Lamentations 2:19
New Living Translation (NLT)
19 Rise during the night and cry out.
Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord.
Lift up your hands to him in prayer,
pleading for your children,
for in every street
they are faint with hunger.
Romans 1:9
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart[a] by spreading the Good News about his Son.
Pray when God places someone on your heart: driving, walking, and wherever you are.
Psalm 92:2
New Living Translation (NLT)
2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening,
David says: evening and morning and noon will I pray and cry aloud and he will hear my voice.
Psalm 55:17
New Living Translation (NLT)
17 Morning, noon, and night
I cry out in my distress,
and the Lord hears my voice.
So it doesn’t really matter when you pray – just do it.
When is the best time for me to pray?
How will I manage my prayer time?
Whenever you choose to pray – give your best to God.
What to pray
There are many things that we can pray for. Paul says pray about everything. God is interested in everything. (He may not necessarily answer the way we want –but he is listening)
Philippians 4:6
New Living Translation (NLT)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
When it comes to what to pray about, the pattern of prayer that Jesus gives his disciples is helpful.
Matt 6:9-13
Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.
This is a prayer for kingdom purpose.
Notice there is his purpose, his Kingdom, his mission, his provision.
1. Honour God
Jesus says to start with worship and give God all glory and honour and praise. Acknowledge God and his holiness. Acknowledge and glorify him above all else.
2. His Kingdom
It is God’s kingdom on come on earth. This is all about God’s will and purpose being carried out here on earth. This is about mission. Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
What is God’s plan and purpose, his kingdom purpose for others, for your life, the people you do life with, our relationships? What is his will for these people? Pray that.
It is not about God giving us what we want, but us getting on board with what God wants. Paul says pray for everyone, for all people, for the governments and for all those in authority, because God’s will is that people be saved. These are the things we are to pray for.
1 Tim 2:1-6
Instructions about Worship
2 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.
– we are not good at respecting those in government or in authority. It goes against the grain for us, we tend to rebellion. When we ridicule the government we are in direct disobedience to the Word of God. This does not mean we have to agree with what they do or say. There is a difference between acceptance and respect. We are to honour those in authority and pray for them.
Paul also says, pray for spiritual growth, for the people around you and for yourself. Pray for all believers everywhere. This has a strong mission focus on it. God’s will is for all people everywhere to be saved, and that all believers everywhere will live according to his plan and purpose.
Ephesians 6:18
New Living Translation (NLT)
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
Eph 3:14-20
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Pray for Kingdom purpose.
Are my prayers kingdom focussed; am I more interested in God’s kingdom and mission or in getting my own way?
What is our response? This is always a challenge.
What will we change in what we pray for?
My challenge: Think about my prayer life and what I spend most time praying about. Is it God’s mission or my comfort?
Lets make sure our prayers have a focus on God's kingdom.
3. God’s provision
Give us this day ….the food and forgiveness we need. This is where we can pray for God’s provision for our life. Notice it says food for today and not riches for the future. He may give us those because he loves to bless us, but Jesus says ask for today’s provision. In other words trust God each day for provision.
Each day seek his forgiveness. Each day ask for his leading and guiding and don’t let us yield to temptation. Jesus knew that these are the things we need. But the emphasis is not on us, it is on God and his provision for us.
Conclusion
Why, How, When and What of prayer. Prayer is vital to our Christian life; it is foundational. God seeks relationship with me through prayer – Jesus and the apostles encourage it.
What am I going to do to develop my prayer life to the next level?
Let’s be women of prayer who seek kingdom purpose. God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven, trusting God for his provision, addressing attitudes that hinder prayer and developing our prayer life to a new level
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