S.3 EP.16 - Is your prayer life just abut asking God to meet your needs?
Carla often hears from people discouraged that God isn’t answering their prayers. But when she digs a little deeper, she comes to find that their prayer life just consists of asking God to meet their needs. Yes, we should have full confidence bringing our petitions before the Lord. But prayer is so much more than that. By looking at the Lord’s Prayer, we can see how much richness and intimacy is found in a deep prayer life. Grow in confidence and dependency on God as you listen to this episode.
Discouragement Around Prayer
Do you know why so many Christians are discouraged in their prayer life? Many times, we approach prayer with a “Vending Machine Mentality” - praying according to our needs and expecting God to answer according to our will. There is so much more power to be found in prayer! If the only time you pray is when you’re in trouble, then you’re in trouble.
A Biblical Model for Prayer
Look at the Lord’s prayer - Jesus modeled 7 aspects of prayer for us:
Address God as your Father
Prayer is an act of intimacy, approaching God as His child
Praise God
Are you glorifying God in your prayer life? Do you worship Him in prayer?
Surrender
Are you submitting your will to God? Do you value His plan over yours?
Present your needs
Go to God DAILY for your needs
Repentance
Are you giving your sin God and seeking His forgiveness?
Forgiveness
Are you actively forgiving others?
Seek protection & guidance
Turn to God for protection and guidance - remember that He is where your help comes from.
Praise
Remembering to acknowledge God as the Lord of your life
Ask yourself as you practice prayer the way Jesus modeled it for us: Are you praying earnestly? Or only seek Him to fulfill your needs?
Still Struggling With How or What To Pray?
Carla shares how God redirected her prayers for her son to break chains of fear in her life. The Holy Spirit reveals himself when you earnestly seek Him - it’s ok if you don’t know what or how to pray - it starts with praising and seeking Him!
Starts with what’s in your heart
God doesn’t measure your prayer on eloquence - He looks at your heart.
Leave room to listen!
Be still. It’s ok to have “awkward silence” in prayer - this is often where we learn to hear God’s voice.
Pray throughout the day!
We are called to pray continuously. How do you stay in a prayerful posture? You can help yourself by setting alarms and reminders.
Pray in scripture
This means you need to spend time in the word, and find Power and Authority in the Word! Remember how Jesus used scripture to ward off Satan in the desert? Recall that, in the Armor of God, how the Word is our sword? Bring the Word to battle!
Prayer is not transactional - it is relational. Press in with the desire to know God more, and you will see His face.
Scripture References:
*Key Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13
Luke 11:1-13
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the Glory forever.
Amen
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