Ordinary People, Part 2: Friending God (Tony Portell)

  Five ways we communicate with God   1.  Thanksgiving – for what He has done   The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart.  He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7   Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. Col. 2:7   2.  Intercession – praying for others   I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—1 Tim. 2:1   3.  Petition – praying four our needs   Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Phil. 4:6   4.  Worship – acknowledging who God is   Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Psalm 100:1-3   5.  Communion – Relating to God   I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself.   Phil. 3:10 Message Bible   ME Centered Prayer 1.  Petition – praying for our needs 2.  Intercession – praying for others 3.  Thanksgiving – for what He has done 4.  Worship – acknowledging who God is 5.  Communion – ???   God Centered Prayer 1.  Communion – Relating to God 2.  Worship – acknowledging who God is 3.  Thanksgiving – for what He has done 4.  Intercession – praying for others 5.  Petition – praying for our needs   I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.   - Rev. 2   They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this,  ‘Our Father in heaven…    Matt. 6:8-9 Message Bible