Developing Your Spiritual Growth: PRAYER

We had another hefty conversation this week. We talked about strengthening our foundation. Which entails developing your spiritual growth. We decided to create another series. Starting with prayer. We defined prayer as an act of communication by humans with the sacred or holy—God, the gods, the transcendent realm, or supernatural powers. Found in all religions in all times, prayer may be a corporate or personal act utilizing various forms and techniques. We also discussed how the life of Christ is intended to give us examples we can follow and learn from. Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons God has given us, but knowing how to pray is not always easy. Jesus’ disciples felt the same confusion. They were familiar with the often repeated prayers. But Jesus prayed with a kind of authority and power they had never seen before — as though God was listening! When the disciples came to Jesus they didn’t say “Teach us another prayer.” They said “Lord, teach us to pray.” The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) is Christ’s response. Its intention was not to become another ritualistic prayer, but to be an example of how to pray. Prayer is the key to the kingdom and faith unlocks the door. We all know that keys (along with faith) unlocks doors… The first key: Know who you are speaking to. Prayer is a conversation with God, and every conversation begins by addressing the person to whom you are speaking by name. 1. Know who you are speaking to. Prayer is a conversation with God, and every conversation begins by addressing the person to whom you are speaking by name.    2. Give thanks: God loves to see that we have grateful hearts. Praise opens the gates of heaven and should always be part of our one on one time with God.    3. Ask for Gods Will: being that Jesus’s life was the ultimate example for us, God’s plan for those who love him is good, and the safest place we can be is in the center of his divine will. The model prayer is not the only place where Jesus displayed a heart of obedience and submission to the will of God over his own desires and needs. When he was in the Garden of Gethsemane just a few hrs before he would be crucified he prayed “not my will, but yours be done.” We’re living in a day and age where right and wrong, fact and fiction are easily and often confused and the future is so uncertain, it can be hard to know how to pray or what to ask for when difficult circumstances arise. But as believers can find confidence in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. and knowing that he has a purpose for and on our lives Romans 8:28 confirms it “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”      4. Say what you need: James 4:2 “You do not have because you do not ask God”      5. Ask for forgiveness. James 5:16 reminds us that if we want our prayers to be heard, our hearts need to be right with God and with one another. If you feel your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, take some time to check your heart. Welcome to The Lifestyle In Christ. If you would like to support our podcast, please click the link to subscribe and support https://anchor.fm/family-productions-llc/subscribe https://anchor.fm/family-productions-llc/message