Intro You may have heard or may have said, “I will pray for you” or “Our thoughts and Prayers are with you”.
Why Do We Pray. Sick, tragedy, death, In the time of a need.
Marks of a true Christian. Charles Spurgeon, the great preacher of the Victorian era said of prayer in the church, "If the spirit of prayer is not with the people, the minister may preach like an angle but cannot expect success. There may be in that church wealth, talent, labor and many outreach efforts, but the Lord is not there. Prayer is as sure evidence of the presence of God as the rising of the thermometer is evidence of an increase in temperature. If God is near a church, it must pray. If he is not, one of the obvious signs of His absence will be lethargy in prayer."
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and to be constant in prayer. Doesn’t matter the season of life stay constant in prayer.
_Jesus lived a life in Prayer. * *_
Jesus knew Gods plan for him. He was patient to walk it out even when it got tough. He relied on prayer. He was constantly in *prayer. * Jesus was faced with many opportunities to choose a different direction from His father’s plan.
Read - Matthew 26:38-39 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
In this time of a sorrowful season in Jesus life he relied on one of the greatest spiritual disciplines in the Christian Faith, Prayer.
_Our life in prayer_ Dry Seasons and Season that foster Spiritual Growth Dry Seasons
Recognize the patterns and Guard your heart. Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. Don’t let circumstances in the season you’re in change your direction.
My season My reset times. / Realign my focus and gain direction. Our Next Step - Direction
John 5:19 “what ever the father does the son does likewise.”
_Maintaining alignment _ How do we Maintain alignment? Praying and getting distracted! That’s a real struggle! Friendship is contingent on the benefits that a friend brings. Relationships for personal gain. Our prayers reflect this if not put in check. Only going to God when we are in need. Our relationship becomes one sided.
Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your needs know to the lord.
Most importantly after our request He tells us to worship Him with thanksgiving. He longs for our affection. In this we form a “habit” that is lived out in our life, decisions, needs and our relationships with others. This is not based on the outcome of our request its immediate.
_Challenge_ Prayer is fellowship with God and a direct reflection of our relationship with him. If you are in love with Him then your prayer life will reflect it. Prayer is like a marriage. You can not be a growing Christian and not pray just like you can not have a growing marriage with out talking to your spouse.
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