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06.27.07 : LFTD -
"Prayer Made Easy" (PME1)
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(Home) (VN) (C1) (C2) (K) (S) (F) (It) (De) (Ar) ("Pray To Receive Christ") -- Ephesians 6:18-19 18 And Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of Prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on Praying for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel. 
1- Introduction 2- How do I get Started? 3- A.C.T.S (The ACTS of Prayer) (Adoration; Confession; Thanksgiving; Supplication)
1- Introduction Prayer is no optional extra The Lord Jesus Christ taught that Prayer is not something to do when we feel like it. Rather, it is a God-given responsibility. Why Pray? Here are some good reasons: Jesus told His disciples to "Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always Pray and not give up." (Luke 18:1) Paul said Christians should "Devote yourselves to Prayer, being watchful and thankful." (Colossians 4:2) God uses Prayer to bless us "Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7) Jesus Prayed "After leaving them, He went up on a mountainside to Pray" (Mark 6:46). A Key Verse to help you in your Praying: (See how many ways this one verse teaches us about Praying.) -- Ephesians 6:18: A one verse guide to Prayer : + And Pray in the Spirit: (Pray in the power and aid of the Holy Spirit) + on all occasions: (When to Pray) + with all kinds of Prayers: (Using a variety of Prayers) + and requests: (Asking is part of Praying) + With this in mind, be alert (Praying is one way to be spiritually awake) + and always keep on Praying: (Persevere in Prayer) + for all the saints: (Pray for all believers everywhere.)
2- How do I get Started? THE SECRET OF PRAYING IS "PRAYING." There is no hidden technique called How to Pray. The secret is just to Pray. The disciples did not ask Jesus, "Teach us how to Pray?" They asked, "Teach us to Pray." -- Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was Praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to Pray, just as John taught his disciples." THE SECRET OF PRAYING IS "PRAYING IN SECRET" -- Matthew 6:1, 6 1 Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ++ 6 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 14:23 After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to Pray. When evening came, He was there alone. Have you ever seen a Prayer rock? It is a small rock, wrapped in attractive fabric and tied with a ribbon. On the ribbon a card is attached, and on the card are the words: "My Prayer Rock," followed by this poem. ///////////////////////////////////////// The Prayer Rock poem I'm your little Prayer rock and this is what I'd do. Just put me on your pillow until the day is through. Then turn back the covers and climb into your bed, and, "WHACK ..." your little Prayer rock will hit you ... on the head. Then you will remember as the day is through, to kneel and say your Prayers as you wanted to. Then when you are finished just dump me on the floor. I'll stay there through the night to give you help once more. When you get up in the morning "CLUNK," ... I'll stub your toe, So you will remember your morning Prayers before you go. Put me back upon your pillow when your bed is made. Your clever little Prayer rock will continue in your aid. Because your heavenly Father cares and loves you so, He wants you to remember to talk to Him, you know! -- Anonymous //////////////////////////// -- Psalms 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation. -- Psalms 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. -- Psalms 92:1-2 1 It is good to praise the LORD and make music to Your name, O Most High, 2 to proclaim Your love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night, PRAYER IS PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD, NOT MASTERING THE MECHANICS OF HOW TO COME TO GOD. Use an Alarm Clock Many Christians find that the morning is the best time to Pray. For some people the most important thing in their Prayer life is an alarm clock. If you don't get up in time to have an unhurried period of Prayer, don't be surprised that you skip Prayer throughout the day. Hence the need for an alarm clock. -- Mark 1:35 - 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.
3- A.C.T.S (The ACTS of Prayer) THE FIRST RULE OF RIGHT PRAYER IS TO HAVE OUR HEART AND MIND FRAMED AS BECOMES THOSE WHO ARE ENTERING INTO CONVERSATION WITH GOD. ~ John Calvin + God Be In My Head And In My Understanding; + God Be In My Eyes, And in My Looking; + God Be In My Mouth, And in My Speaking; + God Be In My Head, And in My Thinking; + God Be At My End And At My Departing. -- Sarum Primer So, you've Made It! You actually got up in time to Pray. Well done! That's more than some Christians ever manage to do! What do you do now? The following give a simple outline you may wish to follow. If you do, you will cover some of the most important areas of Prayer. A.C.T.S: (The ACTS of Prayer) stand for the Acts of the Apostles, with each letter representing a different aspect of Prayer. A= Adoration (Praising & Worshipping God) C= Confession of sins to God T= Thanksgiving S= Supplication, asking for things in Prayer -- Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord's Prayer) 9 This, then, is how you should Pray: " ’Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Adoration) 11 Give us today our daily bread. (Thanksgiving & Suppilcation) 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Confession & Suppilcation & Thanksgiving) 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Thanksgiving & Suppilcation) + For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (Adoration) Think about Whom you are Praying to Try and lose yourself in Prayer, as you focus on God. This is how the write to the Hebrews advices us to approach God. -- Hebrews 4:14-16 14 Therefore, since we have a Great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
-- Psalms 69:13 But I Pray to You, O LORD, in the time of Your favor; in Your great love, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation. -- Psalms 103:1-5; 20-22 1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 20 Praise the LORD, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His Word. 21 Praise the LORD, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will. 22 Praise the LORD, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
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