The Basics

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When We Pray: The Basics | Part 1

 

Prayer is the PATHWAY to experiencing INTIMACY with God.

 

“Simple Prayer involves ordinary people bringing ordinary concerns

to a loving and compassionate Father.”

  • Richard Foster

 

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Matthew 6:5-8

 

 

DECLUTTERING PRAYER:

 

 

  • Prayer is not a PERFORMANCE.

 

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.

Matthew 6:5

 

 

 

  • Prayer is not a SECRET FORMULA.

 

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Matthew 6:7

 

DEVELOPING INTIMACY WITH GOD:

 

  • View prayer as NECESSARY, not just as a NICE IDEA.

 

When you pray…  But when you pray…  And when you pray…

 

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 5:15-16

 

 

 

  • Approach your HEAVENLY FATHER who LOVES you.

 

Pray to your Father… your Father, who sees… your Father knows…

 

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

Matthew 7:9-11

 

 

  • Set aside a SPECIFIC time & a SACRED place.

 

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:6

 

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Mark 1:35

 

 

  • PRAY: Engage in the 40-Days of Prayer

 

“The same way a small child cannot draw a bad picture so a child of God cannot offer a bad prayer.”

  • Richard Foster