STEP FIVE – Exercise #2: Pray
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Why pray?
In any good relationship, there must be communication both ways. If you love someone, you will talk often to that person. We have a better relationship with those we talk to more often than those we do not. Prayer simply means to talk to God. God speaks to us through His Word and we speak to Him through prayer. This is important for spiritual growth as a Christian.
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17. What does this verse tell us to do? ____________________________________
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Jesus is the best example we have of what prayer is and why we should pray. Read the following verses and write down what His prayer life was like (Matthew 14:23, 19:13-15; Luke 5:16, 6:12, 22:40-42):
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We pray in the name of Jesus (on the basis of who He is and what He has done) and He will answer prayers according to His will. God is not the ultimate vending machine, giving us what we want when we press the right buttons.
John 15:7 If you _______________________________, and ____________________________________, ask
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How to pray?
When you approach God, it is not proper to rush into His presence and bombard Him with your needs. You need to approach God with humility and a contrite heart.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
A simple method of prayer is called A.C.T.S
A – Adoration: We praise God for who He is and what He has done. We lavish love on God who has loved and continues to love us so much. Write down a few things about who God is and what He has done.
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C – Confession: As we adore God for who He is, we are reminded of our complete sinfulness. Through confession, we agree with God that our sin is wrong, and we confess them. What does the Psalm 32:5 say about confession?
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T – Thanksgiving: We express our gratitude towards God in response to what He has done. Read Psalm 30:4,5; 34:7; 100:5 and write down the things that we can thank God for. Also write other things that you want to thank God for:
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S – Supplication: Here we bring specific requests to God—asking Him to intervene in a situation in our life, in the lives of others, etc. There are two types of supplication, namely petition (seeking God for your own needs) and intercession (seeking God for other’s needs). What needs do you or others have that you can pray for?
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What do you pray for?
The simple answer is anything and everything. As you grow spiritually, read more of the Bible, and learn the heart of God, you will want to pray for things that God desires. A new Christian might pray for a million dollars or a fancy new car. A mature Christian pray for those things close to God’s heart (spiritual growth, the spreading of the Gospel, lost people to be saved, etc.)
List a few things that are important to pray for? ________________________________________________
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What questions do you have? Please write them down:
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